Shota Imanaga is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher who entered Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2024 with the Chicago Cubs. His left-handed tricks in the field (delivered with a sense of deceit) and his precision-oriented repertoire and on-field calmness have earned him the titles of The Throwing Philosopher and Mike Imanaga II. His move from the NPB in Japan to the MLB has been one of the most monitored in the past few years.
Shota Imanaga Biography | |
|---|---|
| Real Name: | Shōta Imanaga |
| Birth Date: | September 1, 1993 |
| Age: | 32 Years |
| Birthplace: | Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan |
| Height: | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Parents: | Kyoko Imanaga and Takashi Imanaga |
Early Life
Shota Imanaga was born on the 1st of September, 1993, in Kitakyushu City in Fukuoka Prefecture in Japan. His father, Takashi Imanaga, and mother, Kyoko Imanaga, were both teachers (his father worked as a health and physical education teacher and then as a principal, and his mother was a music teacher).
As a child, Shota Imanaga was reportedly a quiet and disciplined boy: he had not missed a single day of schooling during his entire primary and secondary education. He was introduced to softball at elementary school by his elder brother, and he switched to baseball.
Early life positions were catcher and shortstop, although he is naturally left-handed—a symbol of his readiness to accept various aspects of the game. He studied at Komazawa University and then joined the professional ranks, where he perfected his style as well as learned the mechanics and mentality of pitching.
Shota Imanaga Career
His career started in Japan with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) when he was picked in the first round of the 2015 NPB draft. During his tenure in the NPB, he went 64-50 in wins and losses and struck out more than 1,021 players; he even had a no-hitter on June 7, 2022.
One of the global stars, Imanaga played in both the 2019 WBSC Premier12 and the 2023 World Baseball Classic, bringing his nation to the title. Imanaga entered the MLB with a four-year contract with the Chicago Cubs on January 11, 2024, at a value of US$53M.
Shota Imanaga debuted in the MLB on April 1, 2024, and in his rookie year, he had a record of 15370 with an ERA of 2.91 and 174 strikeouts, being selected to the All-Star team and highly considered to win the Cy Young. He then proceeded to accelerate in the 2025 season, where he ended up with a 9-8 record, a 3.73 ERA, and 117 strikeouts in 25 starts.
His reputation for combining a four-seam fastball, splitter, and slider together with a careful wind-up has made him one of the most interesting young left-handers in the game. Out of the field, he was fast becoming a fan favorite; the fan craze known as Shotsa Boys at Wrigley Field reinforced his cult-star status.
Personal Life
According to the most updated confirmed public sources, Shota Imanaga does not have a confirmed romantic relationship. Different sources have confirmed that he is single. Although the athletes have a certain degree of privacy in their personal lives, no publicly reported partner or spouse has been confirmed. Since he has been preoccupied with his career and his own shift into the MLB, it seems that at this stage of his life, Imanaga has been focusing more on his athletic and personal growth.
Angel Reese Dating Rumors
There have been rumors online about Shota Imanaga and Angel Reese dating, but there is no proof that they are in a relationship. The rumors started after Angel Reese and her teammate went to a Chicago Cubs game, where they took a picture with Shota Imanaga.
Fans shared the photo on social media and began to joke and guess that they might be dating. However, neither Shota nor Angel has said anything about being together, and no real news source has confirmed it. It appears to be just friendly interaction, and the dating talk is mostly fan speculation based on a single photo.
Social Media
On Instagram, under the name @shotaimanaga, Shota Imanaga tells us about his life as a professional player, including training and matches and cultural experiences as well as journeys. Although his number of followers is often stated as 207 K+, he now has many more fans globally, as admirers in Japan, the U.S., and many other countries monitor his activities.
His posts are characterized by a mixture of personal discipline and murmur confidence, which coincides with his nickname and attitude on the mound. Through social platforms, Imanaga communicates with his fans both in English and Japanese, which contributes to the transition of his career between the NPB in Japan and the major league level of the MLB.
Shota Imanaga Net Worth
Shota Imanaga signed a 4-year contract worth about $53 million with the Chicago Cubs in 2024, and the deal could grow to around $80 million if team options are used. He earns several million dollars each season as part of this agreement. Before joining MLB, he also played professionally in Japan, which added to his earnings. Because of his contract and previous career income, his estimated net worth is around $25–30 million.