MLB.com “Japanese pitcher Imanaga attempts to advance to the U.S. through posting”

Japanese left-handed pitcher Shota Imanaga (30, Yokohama DeNA Baystars), who appeared as a starter in the final against the United States in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC), will be posted (private competitive bidding) at the end of this season. It is expected that he will attempt to advance to the American professional baseball major league.바카라사이트

MLB.com reported on the 7th (Korean time), “According to sources, the Yokohama club has decided to allow Imanaga’s posting.”

Imanaga played as a key Japanese pitcher in the WBC held in March of this year, appearing in three games and allowing two runs in six innings.

In the game against Korea, he took the mound following Yu Darvish (San Diego Padres) and pitched well, allowing 3 hits and 1 run in 3 innings. In the final against the United States, he started as a starter and allowed 4 hits and 1 run in 2 innings.

During the WBC period, Imanaga’s fastball velocity was at a maximum speed of 152 km/h and an average speed of 150 km/h. In addition to his fastball, he throws a slider, changeup, and curveball.

MLB.com said, “Imanaga started the 2023 season by winning the WBC championship in the United States in March of this year. He may end the year with a move to the big league.” Imanaga said, “Imanaga has been recognized by major league scouts through his performance in Japanese professional baseball and international competitions. “He received interest. The New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, and St. Louis Cardinals, who need to strengthen their starting lineup, may jump in to recruit Imana,” he predicted.

Imanaga, who has been playing in the first team of the Japanese professional baseball league since 2016, appeared in a total of 162 games and posted a record of 64 wins, 49 losses, and an ERA of 3.19.

This year, he has 7 wins, 3 losses, an ERA of 2.81, and 152 strikeouts. Major league scouts’ evaluations of Imanaga have improved as his strikeout ability has increased and walks allowed have decreased.

Imanaga is called ‘the philosopher on the mound’ among Japanese fans for his impressive interviews.

In particular, in an interview in 2016 when he was a rookie, he said, “If you say winning and losing are luck, there is no further growth,” and this is still talked about.