On September 6, 2023, Yokohama announced that they would post Imanaga to Major League Baseball (MLB) following the 2023 season.[6]
Chicago Cubs
On January 11, 2024, Imanaga signed a four-year, $53 million contract with the Chicago Cubs that also contained a fifth-year option.[7] The Cubs also had to pay $9.825 million to the Bay Stars in the form of a release fee.[8]
Imanaga pitched six shutout innings allowing just two hits with nine strikeouts in his first start for the Cubs on April 1, 2024.[9] Through his first nine MLB starts, Imanaga compiled a 5-0 record with a then-league-leading 0.84 ERA.[10][11]
On September 4, Imanaga delivered the first seven innings of a combined no-hitter and 12–0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge both followed with one inning each. It was the 18th no-hitter and the second combined no-hitter in Cubs franchise history. Additionally, it was the first no-hitter at Wrigley Field since 1972 when Milt Pappas last threw a no-hitter there.[12]
Imanaga is a 5-foot-10-inch (1.78 m), 175-pound (79 kg) left-handed pitcher throwing from a three-quarters arm angle.[16][17] He has a fastball averaging nearly 92 mph (tops out at 96 mph[18]),[19][20] split-finger fastball, changeup, curveball and slider in his repertoire.[21] He is not an overpowering hurler but finds success with his command and changeup.[22]
Personal
When asked by a reporter about receiving the nickname "The Throwing Philosopher," Imanaga replied (through an interpreter) "I know that I have a unique personality. If I'm trying to say a normal thing, it comes out a little sophisticated."[23] Prior to starting his MLB career, he said at a press conference (through an interpreter), "I am by no means a finished product and there is a lot of me to learn, and there is a lot for me to study day-in and day-out. And I believe that, somehow, my approach in that way earned me the nickname."[24]
When asked how he felt pitching in New York for the first time, Imanaga replied (through an interpreter) "The view from the hotel, I recognize it from Spider-Man. So I was just like, oh, this is where Spider-Man was."[25][26]
Imanaga nicknamed himself "Mike" because of the difficulty baristas at Starbucks had pronouncing his name. The nameplate on his locker was changed to read "Mike Imanaga II"; the "II", according to Imanaga, "just sounds cool".[27][28]