Cubs see exactly what they needed in Shota Imanaga's 2026 spring training debut

Edward Cabrera was the big swing for the Chicago Cubs during the offseason as they looked to add upside to their starting rotation. Still, the return of Shota Imanaga will likely be the most debated move. Imanaga struggled during the final two months of the 2025 season and was an afterthought for the Cubs in Game 5 of the NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers. Despite that reality, the Cubs extended a qualifying offer to Imanaga, who accepted the $22.025 million after his free-agent market was dormant.

Imanaga made his 2026 spring training debut for the Cubs on Tuesday and pitched two scoreless innings. Most importantly, there was a noticeable uptick in Imanaga's velocity.

Shota Imanaga's 2026 spring training debut was an encouraging step for the Cubs

All of Imanaga's pitch offerings yesterday had a higher average velocity than his final 2025 season average. It would lend credence to the idea that Imanaga's struggles at the end of the 2025 season were tied to mechanical issues with his delivery upon his return from injury.

Craig Counsell told reporters at the start of spring training that the goal for Imanaga during the offseason was to iron out the issues with his delivery, something the team believes was tied to the hamstring injury he suffered during the second half of last year.

Many Cubs fans have written off Imanaga already. It feels like recency bias. The last time Imanaga was in a game of consequence, he was serving up batting practice to the Brewers in the playoffs. It was the theme of his final two months in 2025, and is the reason why many Cubs fans believe he can't get back to the pitcher he was during his first year and a half in Chicago.

Tuesday's start was a step in the direction of proving those fans wrong. It's also why the trade for Cabrera was so important. Sure, Imanaga is carrying a hefty price tag for the 2026 season, but he currently is slotted in at the bottom of the team's rotation. Imanaga isn't viewed as the de facto ace that he was expected to be when Justin Steele went down in April of last season.

Anything Imanaga offers the Cubs in 2026 should be viewed as a bonus, but if his spring training debut is any indicator, reports of his demise may have been premature.