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  "path": "/cubs/2026/02/24/shota-imanagas-velocity-in-first-start-of-spring-training-promising-for-cubs",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-25T02:03:23.112Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "textContent": "<p>MESA, Ariz. — <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs\" target=\"_blank\" >Cubs</a> left-hander <b>Shota Imanaga</b> had been joking he wanted to get his fastball velocity up to 97 mph.</p><p>‘‘We’ll take, like, 94, 95,’’ pitching coach <b>Tommy Hottovy</b> said at the beginning of spring training. ‘‘That’d be great.’’</p><p>In his first spring start Tuesday, Imanaga already was averaging 93 mph, according to Statcast. And pitchers’ velocities generally increase through the spring.</p><p>‘‘I want to preface by saying, for me, velo isn’t everything,’’ Imanaga said through an interpreter. ‘‘But having velocity obviously is an advantage. Today, [I] felt like the velo was up. So just overall, my takeaway was that it was a good start.’’</p><p>Imanaga isn’t a power pitcher by any means, but he was slow to regain velocity last season after suffering a <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2025/10/06/how-shota-imanagas-throwing-philosopher-side-came-out-post-injury-nlds-brewers-game-2\" target=\"_blank\" >strained hamstring in May</a>. His fastball averaged 90.8 mph in 2025, compared with 91.7 the year before.</p><p>It’s a subtle difference, but when Imanaga’s fastball velocity is up, it creates more separation from his splitter, which is his go-to secondary pitch.</p><p>‘‘I was really happy with how he left [last season],’’ manager <b>Craig Counsell</b> said, regardless of Imanaga’s struggles down the stretch and into the playoffs. ‘‘Very confident that he would put himself in a very good position, and he was ready to do that.’’</p><p>On Tuesday, Imanaga allowed three hits in 2‰ scoreless innings against the Padres. The hardest pitch he threw was a 94.1 mph heater on the outside corner to strike out infielder <b>Sung-Mun Song</b> swinging in the first inning.</p><h3></h3><h3>Long still eyeing WBC</h3><p>First baseman <b>Jonathon Long</b> moved his flight date to join Team Chinese Taipei from Tuesday to Friday, Counsell said. His recovery since <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/02/21/how-tokyo-series-prepared-cubs-matthew-boyd-for-wbc-ramp-up\" target=\"_blank\" >spraining his left elbow in an in-game collision Saturday</a> has been promising.</p><p>‘‘He’s doing much better,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘No issue with X-rays or anything like that. The soreness is dissipating. Still a little residual soreness, but it’s the kind that’s improving every day.’’</p><p>Long took swings Tuesday, Counsell said, and he’ll ramp up his activity in the next couple of days.</p><p>‘‘He doesn’t really want to get on a plane and have some question about his availability,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘He’s trending well.’’</p><h3>Conforto in camp</h3><p>Outfielder <b>Michael Conforto</b> joined the team workout Tuesday, running through defensive drills on the back fields with a couple of new teammates before taking batting practice.</p><p>The Cubs declined to make him available to the media because <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/02/23/cubs-signing-outfielder-michael-conforto-to-minor-league-deal\" target=\"_blank\" >his minor-league deal</a> wasn’t official yet, but he sat down with Counsell earlier in the day.</p><p>‘‘I thought Michael laid it out really well, where he’s at,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘He’s in a good place. You learn from all your experiences, [and it] puts you in a good place. You have uncertainty when you come to camp on a non-roster deal, and I think he’s in a position to use that uncertainty in a really good way.’’</p><p>Counsell said he expects to get Conforto into the lineup Sunday, giving him four days of camp to build up.</p>",
  "title": "Shota Imanaga's velocity in first start of spring promising for Cubs",
  "updatedAt": "2026-02-25T02:29:54.960Z"
}