The Cubs have only one All-Star: left-hander Shota Imanaga.
As expected, Imanaga was named Sunday to the National League team that will play in the Midsummer Classic in Arlington, Texas, on July 16. Signed in the offseason to a four-year, $53 million contract after a successful career in Japan, Imanaga has been a highlight of an otherwise disappointing year for the Cubs.
“[It means] I can tell the Chicago Cubs fans that are cheering me on, as well as the fans in Japan, the good news,” Imanaga said.
In 16 starts, Imanaga has a 3.16 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP and 92 strikeouts in 91 innings. A strong contender for NL rookie of the year, Imanaga primarily has used a four-seam fastball and splitter to get outs, building a chase rate of 35.1% that’s in the top 5% in the majors, according to Baseball Savant. He also has allowed only 15 walks.
“What’s been so impressive to me is he’s a rookie,” manager Craig Counsell said. “Maybe [as] a pitcher he’s not a rookie [with] all of his experiences on the mound, but he’s a rookie in this league, and he’s a rookie being here as a major-league baseball player in Chicago. How he’s handled that part of it with everything new that gets thrown out at you, with everything that’s different, has been the best part and has made him successful.
“He’s a great pitcher, but how he’s handled that transition has contributed to him being on the All-Star team.”
An emotional day
Right-hander Hunter Bigge, a Harvard alum, is 1-0 with an ERA of 0.77 in 11 games with Triple-A Iowa. He impressed in spring training before suffering an oblique injury that delayed his first action of 2024.
On Saturday, Iowa manager Marty Pevey told Bigge he was headed to the Cubs for his first taste of the big leagues. Bigge couldn’t stop smiling for about 10 minutes. Then he couldn’t stop crying for another 10 minutes.
“I flashed back through a lot of memories of playing in high school, playing in college, getting drafted, going through the ups and downs of pro ball, all the hard work and time that I’ve put in and all the sacrifices my family and I have made,” Bigge said. “It’s been my dream since I was a little kid, so all of those emotions just came out.”
Health and wellness
Counsell had no fresh information on Kyle Hendricks, who left the game Saturday after two innings with tightness in his lower back. Before he starts again, Counsell indicated the team needs to be confident Hendricks can give them innings.
“We have to be in a place of very good health next time,” Counsell said.
Counsell said Pete Crow-Armstrong (thumb) threw better Sunday than he did Saturday, but he wasn’t in the lineup.
Mike Tauchman (strained left groin) is joining the Cubs on their upcoming trip to Baltimore. Tauchman is starting to hit and run but isn’t at full speed, and Counsell hopes he can return “fairly soon” after the All-Star break.
