Shōta Imanaga Continues Winning On AND Off The Field

The Chicago Cubs‘ priority this offseason was to re-sign left-handed power hitter Cody Bellinger. Many felt that without him, they did not stand a chance to continue the progress they made in 2023. They finally reached a deal just after camp broke in February, but that was not the most significant move of their offseason. The biggest move was signing Shōta Imanaga.

After just two starts in Major League Baseball, Imanaga has proven that he was worth the Cubs’ pursuit of him. They agreed to a deal to bring Imanaga to Chicago for at least four years for roughly $53 million. There is a club option for a fifth season that would make the deal worth about $80 million.

So far, he’s been worth every penny. Imanaga made history in his first outing by going six shutout innings and striking out nine without relinquishing a walk. Only Mother Nature could stop him on Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He pitched four complete innings, striking out two (including Shohei Ohtani) before the tarp came on the field. The delay was lengthy, so he did not return to pitch. Otherwise, he would have cruised to his second career win.

As fun as Imanaga has been to watch on the mound, he’s been just as enjoyable to everyone off the field. Teammates seem to love him as a part of their clubhouse, and fans are having a ball interacting with him. This latest instance proves just how much he is loving being a Chicago Cub.

Shōta Imanaga Teaming With Obvious Shirts To Give Fans New Gear

If you are a Chicago Cubs fan, you know what Obvious Shirts is. Life-long fan Joe Johnson’s business has become a staple in Wrigleyville for almost a decade now. If you’ve either rooted or played for the Cubs, you almost certainly have worn an Obvious Shirt. Well, Shōta Imanaga has been properly introduced to them, and he’s learned how to win over fans.

Pictured in the quote tweet are fans in the bleachers with “SHOTA!” written across their chests. Remember that Sunday’s temperatures flirted with 40 degrees, and there was plenty of rain to go around. That did not stop them from showing Imanaga their love, so he’s returning the favor.

Imanaga’s team contacted Obvious Shirts, and he is gifting the fans new shirts to match the paint they had for the game on Sunday. Imanaga is also setting up a meet-and-greet with the fans to present the gifts. Indeed, this will be a meeting no one involved will forget.

It started with a Chicago Blackhawks game for Imanaga. This past winter, he fell in love with the city and the fans at the United Center. In his first start, he decided Chelsea Dagger was the only way he could take the mound as a Cub. And now, he’s building a relationship with the fans. His continued effort to become one with the city should make him a fan favorite for a long time—especially if he continues pitching the way he is now.