Key Takeaways:
– Shōta Imanaga’s fastball, despite having lower velocity, has been hailed as “the most valuable pitch in baseball” this season.
– With a .078 ERA, Imanaga has been instrumental in the Chicago Cubs’ strong start despite the injury to team ace Justin Steele.
– Imanaga’s unique approach of using his four-seamer and splitter combination keeps hitters guessing and contributes to his success.
– Innovative strategy and adaptation play a significant role in Imanaga’s pitching game.
Imanaga’s Fastball Clinches Top Spot
Despite the loss of the team’s ace, the Chicago Cubs have been off to a strong start this 2021 season. One driving force behind this solid performance is Japanese import Shōta Imanaga. His four-seam fastball, despite being slower than the Major League Baseball (MLB) average, has been pivotal in the team’s success. Interestingly, it has also been dubbed by MLB.com’s David Adler as “the most valuable pitch in baseball” this season.
Imanaga’s fastball, averaging a velocity of 92.1 mph as opposed to the MLB average of 94 mph, has proven to be lethal to opponents. Following a six-start record, Imanaga is 5-0 and boasts an impressive .078 ERA, striking out 35 batters in 34 2/3 innings. It all falls back to his unique technique of controlling and delivering this less-speedy fastball with precision.
“Preventing Lazy Fastballs”
Limitations in speed have not prevented Imanaga from refining his pitching expertise. His unique technique has yielded defensive runs, with his fastballs preventing +9 runs – a rank which he shares with Tyler Glasnow of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Following an interview after his May 1 start, Imanaga commented, “I just have to make sure I’m not throwing lazy fastballs.” The results of these laborious training sessions and focused approach are sufficient proof of his lethal pitching power.
Fastballs vs. Splitters: A Tactical Play
Imanaga’s pitching strategy involves heavily relying on his four-seamer to initiate at-bats. “When I’m ahead, I will lean on my splitter and hitters don’t know what’s coming: fastball or splitter,” Imanaga revealed to Adler. The unpredictable nature of Imanaga’s pitches keeps the batters guessing and off-balance, making his slower fastball extremely effective.
Imanaga joins the elite rank of pitchers who manage to remain ahead in the pitch count. He has achieved being ahead for over a third of his pitches thrown in the big leagues – a significant factor contributing to his success.
A Rare Southpaw with a Constant Splitter
Adding to his repertoire, Imanaga often turns to his splitter. His repeated use of this tactic is somewhat of a rarity, particularly for a southpaw player, and hasn’t been seen since Aríel Miranda in 2017. Imanaga’s left-handed splitter often keeps hitters on their toes, compensating for his fastball’s lower velocity. Despite its uniqueness, Imanaga doesn’t perceive his left-handed splitter as an edge. Instead, he views it as part of his arsenal that, when decoded by observers, can augment his effectiveness.
Adler asserted that Imanaga’s strategic use of his unique four-seam fastball and his splitter holds potential to reshape the common approach in baseball pitching. It is clear that for this season, this Cubs pitcher, backed by his specially curved baseball, remains the one to watch.