Cubs' Shota Imanaga thanks predecessors before making Opening Day history with Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto
MESA, Ariz. – Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga is acutely aware of the lineage he’s stepping into. With him set to be the Cubs’ Game 1 starter in the Tokyo Series, opposite Dodgers star Yoshinobu Yamamoto, it will be the first time in MLB history that two Japanese-born starting pitchers face off on Opening Day in Japan.
“I'm very honored,” Imanaga said Wednesday through interpreter Edwin Stanberry. “I have to say, though, that the reason that the Japanese players are getting a lot of attention is because of all the players in the past that came before us, who created this path for all the Japanese players. And we're walking on their history. So I want to say thank you to all of them.”
Imanaga said Ichiro Suzuki, a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and Padres pitcher Yu Darvish were among those who inspired him in his baseball journey. And now, the talent out of Japan is booming.
The last two offseasons, two of the most highly sought-after free agent pitchers – Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki – were coming over from Japan’s Nippon Professional baseball. Imanaga also signed in January of last year, weeks after Yamamoto.
The best player in the world, the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, grew up and played in Japan before redefining what was possible for a two-way player in MLB.
Imanaga pointed to international tournaments and access to training videos from other players on social media as some of the contributing factors.
“Because of that, the distance from Japan to watching MLB baseball, or just MLB in general, is a lot closer,” he said.
There’s another trend, however, that’s top of mind for Imanaga as the Tokyo Series draws near.
“When I was playing in Japan, I was told that the population of baseball players in Japan is getting fewer and fewer,” Imanaga said. “So, whatever the result is, I think it's a good opportunity for kids and everyone to see baseball up close, MLB baseball up close. And hopefully that can be a motivation for them to keep on playing.”
The dwindling number of young players in Japan is attributed to a combination of the declining birth rate in the country and the diversification of youth sports options.
“It's going to be very exciting,” left-hander Justin Steele said of Opening Day. “There's going to be a lot of exciting fans, a lot of exciting energy around that place. A lot of people that call that place their home, they're going to be playing in that game, so I'm just excited to be a part of it. And nothing but excited for [Imanaga.]”
Steele was the Cubs' Opening Day starter last year, describing it as a "huge honor." As expected, manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Steele is "in line" to pitch Game 2 of the Tokyo Series.
‘‘[Imanaga] and Steele, they both deserve it, so to speak,’’ president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said. ‘‘Because we’re going to be in Japan, it makes total sense to have Shota going Game 1. I think it’s gonna be awesome, honestly.’’
Counsell broke the news to Imanaga in his first individual meeting of the year.
“His reaction was how he reacts to almost everything,” Counsell said Wednesday. “He takes everything in stride, and then he tells you a joke.”
Counsell doesn’t remember the joke. But he does remember what it was like to watch Imanaga and Yamamoto square off at Dodger Stadium last year.
“This year, because it's in Japan and it's Opening Day, it's even better,” Counsell said. “It just adds to it, right? We’re already getting to do something cool, and then we're layering on top.”