Shota Imanaga is MAKING HISTORY! (5-0, 0.78 ERA so far in MLB career!) 今永昇太 

Wow. Beautiful. Forgive me for saying something so corny but “ When pitching becomes poetry”

Peak speed in this vid 94mph he is the living proof there's no need to throw 100+ mph to be dominant. Show Imanaga to all young pitchers.

Beautiful

まあ今永国際舞台の経験もあるし、日本のトップ級の先発だと思ってたよ 感情を大胆に出すタイプはアメリカ向きかも

決して早くない直球を振り遅れてるバッターばかり。 キレや球質なんだろうな。 それにしても怖がらずに凄い投げっぷり。

How did we missed this guy?😂

Imanaga-sama Banzai!

みんな バットが ボールの下を通っているので、速球がホップしているんだろう。 それでボールの上に意識を持って打とうとすると、落ちるボールがより効果的になる。

I like how he’s a little gritty. The Japanese could use a bit of this as they’re always so polished at least in their demeanor. (Said by half-Japanese gal)

今年は日本人選手の動画よく投稿するなあ

for those who know, we aren't surprised....

Imanaga reminds me of Anime One Out Tokuchi Towa.

👍

4:10 "ahhwww'

The Japanese pitchers are really good. Some of these American pitchers need to take note.

カブスのファンは熱いから、試合を見てても楽しい。日本でもカブスの試合をたくさん放送してほしい。

People shouldnt be completely shocked that this guy is good. Team Japan picked this guy to start for them against Team USA in the WBC final that was watched by their entire country. Mustve seen something in him.

Shotime Imanaga(Shota Imanaga)

It's absolutely fascinating how the latest Japanese pitching exports (especially since Darvish) have demonstrated such exceptional fine tools on the mound - of course not to rule out legends such as the master Tornado or the Daimajin Kazuhiro Sasaki. As a Korean, I've witnessed many encounters with them, and their pitching talent has become almost a national characteristic. Much respect to Imanaga, Yamamoto, and all other outstanding Japanese pitchers from a neighbour.

Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award.

He has that "anime fastball". The one which spins so much and all of s sudden as if in slow mo the ball suddenly accelerates when near the plate and completely missed the bat. Fans of the anime Ace of Diamond will know what I mean.😊

The speed does not mater. The number of rotations and control pitching ball are most important.

The Japanese Pitchers so far are some of the best I've ever witnessed throw a ball. Absolute masterclass. Really Amazing that we're getting more asian nationalities to dominate the league

The art of pitching is disappearing. Guys like Shota are bringing it back. Guys that throw 98+ used to be extremely rare. Now they're a dime a dozen. Artists like Shota have always been rare, but the school of thought they come from used to be the norm. Now it's all about velocity and spin rate.

Japanese players dominating the MLB 🔥

I think imanaga is the smartest and most disciplined pitcher. He is called "throwing philosopher".

Imanaga was the starting pitcher in the WBC final. In other words, he was the ace pitcher of the world's best team. It is only natural that he should play this well.

He should definitely be one of the pictures for All Star games!!!

He's not only the Cubs #1 pitcher, he's also one of the top pitchers in MLB right now! Other teams are regretting that they underestimated him! Cubs found a gold!

Mr.０（zero）donuts🎉

Very cerebral pitcher. Not a big guy with overpowering stuff but he mixes his pitches so well.

今永のストレートは日本では体感１６０キロと言われてます

Ohtani is powerful, Darvish is technical, and Imanaga is clever.

Shota is INCREDIBLE.

He's made history, pitching the extremely rare, unheard of, seven inning start. Experts are astounded!

Shota-ime !

Shota Philosopher Imanaga

高めに伸びのあるストレートと、低めにコントロールされた変化球のコンビネーションが素晴らしい。

he is real samurai

正直今永先生がMLBでここまでやれるとは思ってなかったので嬉しい。 何より彼のユーモアなところがカブスファンに受け入れられているようでそれも嬉しい。 シーズンが進んで相手に研究されればうまくいかない試合も増えると思うけど、自分を信じて頑張ってほしいです。

Imanaga's mechanics stand out a lot despite not being a 100mph pitcher. He disguises all his throws with the same mechanics and the ball comes out late so even if it's only 94 max the batter has less time to react as if he is throwing faster. He also changes his throwing rhythm at will to throw the batter off. Sometimes he just throws immediately and sometimes he takes a half second pause then throws. The level of skill without disrupting his control and speed is expected of a veteran. It reminds of the trickiness of Nestor but with better control and mechanics.

山口達也に、似てると思うのオレだけかな〜？

Shota Imanaga is known as "pitcher philosopher" a master of creative crafting pitching styles. He's the number 1 leading pitcher out of all his Japanese peers even though his accolades isn't impressive as Shohei and Yamamoto. Game starting pitcher says a lot about him from last year winning the WBC which is fantastic.

He’s gotta short fast delivery looks like it’s hard to get a good read on any of the pitches he throws! He’s definitely a Great Pitcher!!! And pretty dang good fielder too!!!

今永の居場所はMLBだったのか 合わないNPBでよく頑張ってたな

防御率0点台も終わりかなと思ったら0.98→0.78になるとか凄すぎやん 4:06 このスーパープレイなかったら点入ってたやろなあ。かっけえ

アッパースイング打者を打ち取るにはこの男が有効だ！

He started the WBC final against the USA. That’s about all the proof you need that he’s one of Japan’s best. The Dodgers went with Yamamoto because his ceiling is higher.

Kind of like a left-handed version of Greg Maddux. Less is more - location and changing speed are what he relies on.

彼の打者は球に反応してる時点で既に負けている。彼の球を攻略するには打者にも哲学が必要みたいだ。

I saw this performance back in 1981 with Fernando Valenzuela, also a Lefty, Valenzuela won the ROY, CY and almost wins MVP.

Even though only 93-94mph, that spin on his 4-seamer makes it devastating, especially mixed in with the all-world Splitter

高めのストレートが気持ちよすぎる

100mile出さなくても通用するファストボーラーとか怪我の多い現代野球で最も尊い存在。

20勝いけると思う がんばれ

All that pitching skill plus a great head of hair

最速で149くらいなのにキレでメジャリーガーを抑えまくる。球速至上主義時代にこれはカッコイイね

バウアーだってNPBのデビュー当初ボコボコにKOされた試合がある。山本が打たれたり今永が打たれる日もあるだろうけど、大抵の試合で仕事をすると思う。

さすが投球の哲学者!

He is the left handed Greg "The Professor" Maddux

ここまで大活躍するとは思わなかった。素晴らしいですね。大谷より由伸よりダルビッシュより活躍している。顔の表情も素晴らしいですね。

Even though his fastball is low-mid 90s, the arm angle and the rise make it look way faster

Painting and timing...that changeup is nasty, a splitter but not like a Mariano Rivera fastball splitter...a change up that dies on the spot, then 90 to 98 paint on the lines and up the ladder...brilliant pitching

A former Mariner great also played for the Yokohama BayStars - Kazuhiro Sasaki.

6games 5wins 4four balls 3earned run ↓ 😊IMANAGA

No wonder he's putting up videos game numbers he's in MLB The Show I can tell by the announcer voice!

The Cubs are gonna win today😼

I knew he would be kinda good cause his fastball has all the same characteristics that allow Justin Steele to be good with the same exact velocity. Only difference is Steele gets more ground balls and uses his curve more where Shota uses the splitter more and gets pop ups. But their fastballs both have that abnormally high spin rate that allows the ball to play at tbe top of the zone and naturally rise or cut.

ナイスピッチング！！ 今永昇太さん✨いつみても 迷いなく気持ちのイイ 投球に痺れます🤩🤩🔥 この勢いで突っ走って行ってください🏋️‍♂️🏋️‍♂️

伸びてるように見えるじゃなくて確実に上に上がってる。物理とか言ってるけどそもそも常識が間違ってる可能性がある。

Japanese pitchers also have ninja fielding skills.

Its another SHOw Time

今永前5場先發 簡直就是夢幻開局 從他的眼神中的自信 就知道他在開季前做了非常多的準備跟努力 非常期待他接下來整個球季的表現 但是如果他有被打爆場次 我會更期待他下一場調整之後的反彈 厲害的投手(賽揚) 被打爆之後的調整才可貴的 希望今年的MLB新人獎 有他的名字

それにしても無双すぎる！ メジャーの方が合っているのかも？

Real deal Shota. He does his magic mostly with 4-seam fastball, that's impressive.

カブスのファンはドジャースより熱狂的に見えます😂

These batters have no idea what's coming, it's really impressive. That high heater looks so tasty but the bat is way behind.

That hop he has on his high fastball mixed with the splitter is really deadly. This guy is SOLID.

Imanaga had a great career in Japan, but he did not have an exceptional record, taking mvp and winning awards across the board.Yoshinobu Yamamoto, on the other hand, had an overwhelming performance and won all the awards.I think what I see when I look at players like them is that players who played well in npb do not necessarily play well in mlb and vice versa, it's just a matter of whether mlb baseball suits their style of play or not.

Such a beautiful smooth pitch.

My favorite baseball player❤❤❤

Amazing 💯

It's another SHOTA-ime !

The Yokohama BayStars are in tatters. Imanaga, it's cowardly for you to be more active than when you were in Yokohama.

近い将来、日本人ばっかのメジャー球団も出来たりしたらおもろいな。

🌏There are many excellent pitchers in Japan.🥎

I think Ishikawa in Yakurt swallows is another Japanese pitcher to paying attention because I found some similarities in Ishikawa which I saw in Imanaga pitching style

台灣球迷表示羨慕 日本好多好手😅

Reminds me of a certain pitcher. Rookie Southpaw Non-American pitcher less than 6 feet tall Started the season better than 5-0 (actually 8-0) He won the Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young that year

His pitching is phenomenal🔥

高めのストレートは実質、変化球やな。

Nomo’s career got off to an incredible start as well not this good but once people catch on to this delivery & timing he’s going to have to make adjustments. He seems incredibly smart I think he will but MLB hitters will adjust.

これはなかなか打てないぞ。攻略されないと思う。スイング軌道を変えない限り無理だ。

Dang that 4 seamer elevates.

I knew he would do good in the MLB. His performance at the WBC was personally my favorite out of all Team Japan.

He was throwing with utmost accuracy where the catcher was asking.That's art

Only time will tell if Imanaga will prove a great pitcher, despite his tremendous start. MLB is one of the hardest leagues in the world to continually dominate as opposing batters and special team opps will figure Imanaga out, and if he doesn’t properly adjust to that, he will be barely average.

Imanaga means “now and forever“. He work for Cubs now and forever.

Go cubbies

Imanaga was the starting pitcher for the WBC finals. He was probably chosen because he was the most stable pitcher among the Japanese pitchers. Just like Iwakuma was the starting pitcher for the 2009 WBC finals.