Major league teams should not sleep on Shota Imanaga.
Star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto was already expected to be posted and draw plenty of attention from teams stateside. He will not be the only top NBP pitcher available as Jon Morosi from MLB Network reported that Imanaga will also be posted this offseason.
Shota Imanaga more than a consolation prize in free agency
Imanaga is a somewhat familiar face for fans stateside. He had started the World Baseball Classic finals for Samurai Japan against Team USA, picking up the win as he allowed one run on four hits, striking out two over his two innings of work. He had been an unfamiliar foe for his opponent as they had not seen him before. While he had his struggles, that strategy ultimately worked as Japan won the gold medal.
He has had an impressively dominant run with the Yokohama BayStars this season. Imanaga has posted a stellar 2.81 ERA and a 0.984 WHiP over his 128 innings, striking out 152 batters with 21 walks. He leads the Central League in strikeouts, proving that he should be considered one of the better pitchers in the league. Nonetheless, Imanaga is overshadowed on his own team by Trevor Bauer.
It is fair to wonder how well he will fair in the majors. Imanaga has a low 90s fastball, splitter, cutter, and curve, with his pitches playing up due to their spin rates. His cutter and splitter both generate plenty of swings and misses, making them viable put away pitches. He has been compared to the 2022 version of Tyler Anderson, although potential volatility means that he could be this year’s Anderson as well. He will not command the same salary as Yamamoto, but could be a bargain in free agency.
Another top Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher is heading stateside. Shota Imanaga is set to be posted this offseason.
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