CHICAGO (AP) — The road for Shota Imanaga from Japan to the major leagues included at least one sharp observation that has served him well in his transition to life with the Chicago Cubs.
“Watching foreign players in Japan and how they try to figure out how to get support from the fans, essentially I’m just doing the opposite of that, coming over here,” Imanaga said through a translator. “It was something I thought about.”
From his entertaining pitching style to his trips to Dunkin’ Donuts — “Either I order a small iced latte or a medium,” he said — Imanaga has moved with a purpose in his acclimation to the big leagues. And he is making it look easy at the moment.
Relying on a deceptive four-seam fastball that he usually locates at the top of the strike zone, along with a splitter that plays at the bottom, Imanaga is 5-0 with a 0.84 ERA for the contending Cubs. The left-hander also has 58 strikeouts and nine walks in 53 2/3 innings — thrusting himself into the early conversation for NL Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award.
Supreme Court declines to hear challenge to Maryland ban on rifles known as assault weapons
Heavy rains lash UAE and surrounding nations as the death toll in Oman flooding rises to 18
Sydney church stabbing being treated as act of terrorism, police say
Iranian FM opens new consulate in Damascus following Israeli strike
Children are evacuated from school 'during an exam' after threat made via email
Bernd Hölzenbein, World Cup winner with West Germany in 1974, dies at 78
Project renovating old residences revitalizes ancient city
China's tiger and leopard park sees over 35 cubs born in past year
Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. to lead Indianapolis 500 field in Corvette pace car
Iranian FM opens new consulate in Damascus following Israeli strike
Mohammad Mokhber: Who is Iran’s acting president?
Taiwan body donates cultural relics to national heritage administration