Cubs' Imanaga Aims for Bounce-Back Season with Pitch Mix Tweaks

Lefty Shota Imanaga looks to rebound from injury-plagued 2025 campaign with refined arsenal.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Shota Imanaga, the Chicago Cubs' left-handed pitcher, is focused on making adjustments to his pitch mix and delivery this spring training after an inconsistent 2025 season. Imanaga, who accepted the Cubs' qualifying offer, is determined to put his NLDS Game 2 struggles and a left hamstring injury behind him. The Cubs are excited about Imanaga's potential bounce-back season and have worked with him on refining his sweeper, tweaking his sinker grip, and reintegrating his cutter into his repertoire.

Why it matters

Imanaga's performance is crucial for the Cubs, who are aiming to build on their 2025 playoff appearance. The lefty's ability to regain the form he showed in his debut 2024 season, when he posted a 2.91 ERA, will be key to the team's success. The adjustments Imanaga makes this spring could help him rediscover his command and effectiveness, which were affected by the hamstring injury.

The details

Imanaga spent the offseason rebuilding his lower-body strength, which had never fully returned following the hamstring injury he suffered in early May 2025. The injury affected his delivery, creating a lack of stability and trust in his movements. The Cubs' pitching coach, Tommy Hottovy, said Imanaga was trying to alter his delivery cues and sight lines to compensate, which slowed his progress. This offseason, Imanaga has focused on refining his sweeper, tweaking his sinker grip to add velocity, and reintegrating his cutter into his pitch mix.

  • Imanaga suffered a left hamstring strain in early May 2025, which cost him seven weeks during the regular season.
  • Imanaga had a disappointing NLDS Game 2 start, which ended the Cubs' season.

The players

Shota Imanaga

A 32-year-old left-handed pitcher for the Chicago Cubs who is looking to bounce back from an inconsistent 2025 season.

Craig Counsell

The manager of the Chicago Cubs, who is excited for Imanaga to have an outstanding 2026 season.

Tommy Hottovy

The pitching coach for the Chicago Cubs, who has worked with Imanaga on adjusting his pitch mix and delivery.

Hirokazu Ibata

The manager of the Japanese national baseball team, who expressed disappointment if Imanaga opted out of pitching for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic.

Edwin Stanberry

The interpreter who assisted Imanaga in his media interviews.

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What they’re saying

“I'm very excited for Shota to have an outstanding season. He's going to respond to the things that happened at the end of the year, and he wasn't happy with how he pitched. That's what great competitors do, they respond to things like that. And he will absolutely respond, I'm very confident in that.”

— Craig Counsell, Manager (Chicago Tribune)

“There's unfinished business”

— Shota Imanaga (Chicago Tribune)

“He wanted more, he thinks there's more in there, there's more to prove, and you can tell by the way he's coming to spring training that he feels that way, because he's in such a great place from where he was at the end of the year last year.”

— Tommy Hottovy, Pitching Coach (Chicago Tribune)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Shota Imanaga's determination to bounce back from an inconsistent 2025 season has the Cubs' full support. By focusing on refining his pitch mix and addressing the mechanical issues caused by his hamstring injury, Imanaga is poised to regain the form that made him a valuable part of the Cubs' rotation in 2024. The team's faith in Imanaga's ability to respond to adversity and emerge as a stronger pitcher is a testament to his competitive spirit and the organization's belief in his potential.