Shota-mania Is Taking Over Chicago

Going into the 2024 season, Shota Imanaga was overshadowed by fellow countryman Yoshinobu Yamamoto. However, Imanaga has taken the league by storm so far this season. He is off to arguably the best start ever by a rookie starter in MLB history. This is something that nobody in baseball saw coming. I believe Imanaga could win both the NL Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards this season.

Teams Were Hesitant To Sign Him

Before Imanaga came over to the United States, there were lots of concerns about how his game would translate to MLB. In Japan, Imanaga was a big fly ball pitcher. This led to an increased rate of home runs in a league not known for power. Major League Baseball is primarily a power-oriented league. Some thought his style of pitching would lead to many homers and that he wouldn’t have much success. This perhaps dampened his stateside market this past offseason.

The Cubs Took The Gamble

However, the Chicago Cubs decided to take a chance on the 30-year-old and signed him to a four-year, $53 million deal. The contract also includes an option for a fifth year. Chicago also had to pay his former team, Yokohama DeNA Bay Stars $9.825 million in the form of a release fee. Despite all the questions surrounding Imanaga, He’s practically taken over as the ace of the Cubs starting rotation. The former NPB star has exceeded even the wildest expectations so far this season.

Shota Imanaga Is Proving His Critics Wrong

Imanaga began the 2024 season going on a 15.1 scoreless inning streak. Imanaga has been on a torrid pace ever since. In his first nine starts, the 30-year-old is 5-0 with an ERA of 0.84, 58 strikeouts, and a 0.913 WHIP. The 30-year-old has only allowed hitters to walk 4.3% of the time as well. No pitcher has posted a lower ERA mark through their first nine starts since it became an official statistic in 1913. The previous low through nine starts was 0.91 set by Fernando Valenzuela in 1981. Valenzuela’s magical 1981 season would become known as Fernando-mania. That season, Fernando Valenzuela would win both the NL Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards. Perhaps the Chicago Cubs are experiencing “Shota-mania” in 2024.

He’s Dominating Without Having High Velocity

The amazing thing about Imanaga isn’t overpowering any hitter with his fastball. In a league that is obsessed with high velocity, Shota Imanaga is showing us that you don’t have to be overpowering to have success. Imanaga’s fastball only averages out to 92 miles per hour and he throws it 58.2% of the time. However, despite the low velocity, hitters strike out 27.4% of the time when they face him.

Could Fernando Valenzuela’s Feat Now Have Company?

The accomplishment of winning Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards in the same year has only happened once. This occurred in 1981 when Valenzuela accomplished it. However, given how successful Imanaga has been so far this season, Fernando Valenzuela just might now have company. This is only the beginning of “Shota-mania” capturing the imagination of Cubs fans everywhere.

Shota-mania Is Only Going To Grow

It is very refreshing to see a pitcher with not a lot of velocity have success in the league. Shota Imanaga has proven all his critics wrong so far this season. His style of pitching has translated very well into Major League Baseball. He’s taken over as the ace of the Cubs starting rotation when they badly needed one. I can’t recall a time when Chicago had a pitcher this talented in their starting rotation. However, given his success so far this year, it’s only a matter of time before “Shota-mania” takes over the North Side.

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