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Jesse Rogers, ESPN Staff Writer
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Calling it a “good learning experience,” Japanese left-hander Shota Imanaga gave up a three-run home run while striking out five against the Los Angeles Dodgers in his major league spring training debut for the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.
Imanaga, known as a fly ball pitcher, threw 40 pitches in 2⅓ innings, leaving one fastball over the plate which Dodgers prospect Andy Pages hammered for a long home run in the second.
“My goal today was not to give up a home run,” Imanaga said afterward via interpreter Edwin Stanberry. “Even though it happened, it was a good learning experience to try and figure out how to make that a single into left field [instead of a HR].
“The difference between Japan and the U.S. is when to throw the fastball. Like today on a 0-1 count, I should have thrown the fastball a little higher. So, it’s a learning experience.”
Imanaga, 30, signed a four-year, $53 million deal with the Cubs during the offseason.
After giving up the home run, Imanaga struck out the next three batters, providing some positive feedback about his stuff. He also struck out Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman in the first inning.
“The pitch to Freddie Freeman was a really good pitch,” he said. “I want to continue to throw pitches like that … I felt better on the sinker inside against lefties, getting ahead in the count.”
Imanaga looked his best against the lefties in the Dodgers’ lineup, striking out three from that side of the plate. With former Team Japan teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto watching from the Dodgers’ dugout, Imanaga was called for a pitch clock violation before ever throwing a major league pitch.
He said it’s all part of that learning experience.
“I would like to understand the pitch clock a little bit better,” Imanaga stated. “I want to start using it to my own advantage.”
The sold-out crowd at Camelback Ranch didn’t get the opportunity to see Imanaga face another Team Japan teammate as Shohei Ohtani had the day off. He and Yamamoto did manage a quick chat between innings, but they “didn’t have enough” time for a conversation, according to Imanaga.
“Next time,” he said.
The lefty fits into the middle of the Cubs’ rotation as the team will work him slowly into a new routine which is the biggest adjustment coming over from Japan, where pitchers throw once a week.
“In Japan there is more of a break,” Imanaga said. “I want to figure out how to recover [quicker].
“I’m glad I was able to experience [this]. I don’t feel more or less nervous facing a really good team. It was a good experience in the environment.”