Shota Imanaga unleashed a revitalized fastball, topping 94 mph in his spring debut. A healthy, dominant pitcher is poised for a strong 2026 season.
One of the biggest questions before the season was how Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga would bounce back after a tough 2025 campaign.
Imanaga really struggled in the second half of last season, carrying a 5.17 ERA across his final 12 starts. The home runs were a major problem for him, and his fastball velocity was significantly down. In his last regular season start, the left-hander averaged just 90.7 mph on his four-seam fastball.
Imanaga and manager Craig Counsell both said the hamstring injury he suffered in early May played a big role in his struggles later in the season. Imanaga also mentioned that his body just didn’t feel right toward the end of the year.
Well, Imanaga looked fully healthy for the first time in a while during his first spring start. The lefty took the mound against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday at Sloan Park, pitching two scoreless innings with three hits allowed and one strikeout.
Most importantly, Imanaga’s fastball velocity was up compared to last year. The 32-year-old averaged 93 mph on his four-seam fastball in Tuesday’s start. That was up 2.2 mph from the 2025 season.
That increased fastball velocity is a strong sign that Imanaga is fully healthy heading into the 2026 season. He got four swings and misses on his four-seam fastball, and his fastball hit 94.1 mph in the first inning.
Imanaga still has the potential to be one of the league’s top starting pitchers. He showed that in his rookie season, as he finished fourth in National League Rookie of the Year voting and fifth in National League Cy Young voting.
Even at the beginning of the 2025 season, Imanaga was a quality starter for the Cubs. He had a 2.82 ERA and 34 strikeouts in his first eight starts. Then, he suffered a hamstring strain while trying to cover first base in a game against the Brewers in May.
Imanaga being fully healthy is great news for him and the Cubs this season. He was really disappointed with how he pitched in the second half and is now playing on a $22 million qualifying offer this year.
So, Imanaga does have something to prove on the mound.
If his fastball can stay between 92 and 94 mph this season, the third-year pro could have a very strong year. Seeing his velocity up this early in spring is a great sign for 2026.