Japanese left-hander Shota Imanaga, 30,카지노 of the Yokohama DeNA Basestars, will knock on the door of the major leagues through the posting system after this season.
MLB Network’s John Morosi reported on Sunday (July 7), citing sources, that Imanaga will attempt to make the big leagues through the posting system in the offseason.
Imanaga, who made his Nippon Professional Baseball debut in 2016, spent eight seasons with Yokohama, compiling a career record of 64-49 with a 3.19 ERA in 162 games. This season, he has appeared in 19 games and thrown 128 innings, posting a 7-3 record with a 2.81 ERA.
Imanaga has also made his mark on the international scene. He participated in the 2019 Premier12 and 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC), where he helped Japan win the title.
In the WBC, he pitched three innings of one-run ball in relief against South Korea and started the final game against the United States, allowing one run on four hits in two innings.
Imanaga could be a target for big-league teams looking to bolster their starting depth. “Imanaga is well known to major league scouts for his performance in Nippon Professional Baseball and the major leagues,” said MLB.com, adding that the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, and St. Louis Cardinals are among the teams looking to fill starting rotation gaps this offseason.
In addition to Imanaga, Orix Buffaloes ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto is also expected to try his hand at the major leagues this offseason using the postseason system.