Shōta Imanaga

Shōta Imanaga (今永 昇太, Imanaga Shōta, born September 1, 1993) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has played for the BayStars since 2016.

Shōta Imanaga
Imanaga with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars
Yokohama DeNA BayStars – No. 21
Pitcher
Born: (1993-09-01) September 1, 1993
Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
debut
March 29, 2016, for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars
Career statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record64–50
Earned run average3.18
Strikeouts1021
Teams
Career highlights and awards
NPB
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Japan
World Baseball Classic
Gold medal – first place 2023 Miami Team
WBSC Premier12
Gold medal – first place 2019 Tokyo Team

Career

The Yokohama DeNA BayStars selected Imanaga in the first round of the 2015 NPB draft.[1]

Imanaga signed with the Canberra Cavalry of the Australian Baseball League to play weeks 2-7 of the 2018–19 Australian Baseball League season[2] In his six starts for the Cavalry, he posted a 4–0 win–loss record with a league best 0.51 earned run average (ERA) over 35 innings pitched with 57 strikeouts to one walk. By meeting the statistical recognition minimum (0.8IP per team game), Imanaga broke the league records for WHIP (0.429), H/9 (3.6), BB/9 (0.3) and second best ERA behind Ryan Searle. Following his ABL stint, Imanaga posted a 13–7 2.91 ERA, 2019 Nippon Professional Baseball season, finishing second in wins and strikeouts only behind Shun Yamaguchi in the Central League.

On June 7, 2022, Imanaga pitched a no-hitter against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.[3]

On September 6, 2023, Yokohama announced that they would post Imanaga to Major League Baseball (MLB) following the 2023 season.[4]

International career

Imanaga represented the Japan national baseball team in the 2019 exhibition games against Mexico and 2019 WBSC Premier12.

On February 27, 2019, he was selected at the 2019 exhibition games against Mexico.[5]

On October 1, 2019, he was selected to Team Japan for the 2019 WBSC Premier12.[6]

Imanaga played for the Japanese national team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, and started the championship game.[7]

Playing style

Imanaga is a 5 ft 10 in, 190 pounds left-handed pitcher.[8] He has a low-90s fastball (tops out at 96 mph[9]),[10] changeup, curveball and slider in his repertoire.[11] He isn't an overpowering hurler but finds success with his command and changeup.[12]

References
  1. "2015年 新人選手選択会議(ドラフト会議) 横浜DeNAベイスターズ 選択選手一覧". NPB.jp 日本野球機構 (in Japanese).
  2. "Japanese Major League Players Join the Cavalry". 13 October 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  3. "BayStars Shota Imanaga hurls no-hitter as Fighters lose five straight". 8 June 2022.
  4. "MLB Rumors: Shōta Imanaga to Be Posted in Free Agency; Won Gold with Japan at WBC". syndication.bleacherreport.com. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  5. "ENEOS 侍ジャパンシリーズ2019「日本 vs メキシコ」に出場するメンバー28名が決定". 野球日本代表 侍ジャパン オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). February 18, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  6. "「ENEOS 侍ジャパンシリーズ2019」出場選手決定について". 野球日本代表 侍ジャパン オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). October 1, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  7. "Japan starting Imanaga over Ohtani or Darvish in WBC final vs. United States". Sportsnet.ca. 2023-03-16. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  8. https://npb.jp/bis/players/01305132.html
  9. https://hochi.news/articles/20230310-OHT1T51291.html
  10. https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/shota-imanaga-to-be-posted-this-offseason/
  11. https://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball/news/japanese-pitcher-shota-imanaga-will-reportedly-be-posted-to-mlb-teams-this-offseason
  12. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/09/yokohama-dena-baystars-to-post-shota-imanaga.html
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