Shota Imanaga今永昇太
A left-hander who threw a no-hitter in Japan and an All-Star season in his first year in Chicago.
Shota Imanaga moved from the Yokohama DeNA BayStars to the Cubs in 2024. Last winter he accepted the qualifying offer to stay for 2026, and he is among the Cubs players heading to free agency.
Profile
| Team | Chicago Cubs (2026 season; headed for free agency, future undecided) |
|---|---|
| Position | Starting pitcher |
| Number | 18 |
| Born | Sept. 1, 1993 (age 33) |
| Hometown | Kitakyushu, Fukuoka |
| Throws and bats | Throws left, bats left |
Profile details checked Nov. 4, 2026 against MLB.com and major news outlets.
Career timeline
- 2016
Joins DeNA.
- 2022
Throws a no-hitter on June 7.
- 2023
Wins the World Baseball Classic with Japan.
- 2024
Signs with the Cubs in January for four years and $53 million. Strikes out nine in six innings in his MLB debut and makes the All-Star team.
- 2025
In November, accepts a qualifying offer worth about $22 million and stays with the Cubs for 2026.
- 2026
Expected to become a free agent again.
What is a no-hitter?
A no-hitter means the opposing team gets no hits in a full game. Walks and errors can still put runners on base; what matters is that nobody gets a hit. Imanaga did it on June 7, 2022.
What is a qualifying offer?
A qualifying offer is a one-year contract that a team can offer to a player whose deal is ending. The amount is set across the league: about $22 million last year, and $23.15 million this year according to the AP.
If the player accepts, he stays for one more year at that salary. Imanaga accepted in November 2025 and pitched for the Cubs in 2026.
Latest from Japan
Japan's press is bracing for Seiya Suzuki to leave the Cubs
Three Japanese reports in three weeks point the same way: Chicago wants pitching, and Suzuki's five-year contract is up.
Frequently asked questions
- What team and number does Imanaga wear?
- He pitched for the Chicago Cubs in 2026 and wears number 18. He is expected to become a free agent, so next season's team is undecided.
- How much is his Cubs contract worth?
- Four years and $53 million, signed in January 2024. In November 2025 he also accepted a qualifying offer of about $22 million.
- When did he throw his no-hitter?
- June 7, 2022, while pitching for DeNA.