Cubs starter Shota Imanaga named National League All-Star

The Cubs have just one representative on the National League All-Star team. Unsurprisingly, it’s Shota Imanaga.

As was widely expected, Imanaga was named Sunday to the NL team that will play in the July 16 All-Star Game in Arlington, Texas. 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-underwhelming 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 through a translator.

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 honors, Imanaga has used primarily a four-seam fastball and splitter to get outs, building a chase rate of 35.1% that’s in the top five percent of the sport, per Baseball Savant. Imanaga’s control has also shined through, as he’s given out just 15 walks.

“What’s been so impressive to me is he’s a rookie,” Cubs 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 it’s contributed to him being on the All-Star team, is how he’s handled that transition.”

An emotional day
A Harvard University product, Hunter Bigge is 1-0 with a 0.77 ERA in 11 games with Triple-A Iowa. Bigge 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 Saturday’s game after two innings with low back tightness. Before the Cubs start him 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.

Per Counsell, Pete Crow-Armstrong (thumb) threw better Sunday than he did Saturday but was not in the lineup.

Mike Tauchman (left groin strain) is joining the Cubs on their upcoming road trip to Baltimore. Tauchman is starting to hit and run but is not yet at full speed, and Counsell hopes he can return “fairly soon” after the All-Star break.