Cubs' Shota Imanaga pays homage to a Chicago icon with his All-Star Game walk-up song

Even before signing his contract with the Chicago Cubs, Shota Imanaga had begun embracing the city itself. That continued into the regular season when he chose the song 'Chelsea Dagger' as his warm-up music. Of course, that song is synonymous with the Chicago Blackhawks here - and it immediately scored points with fans.

This week in Arlington, Imanaga turned things up a notch with a new warm-up tune, 'Be Like Mike', in a clear nod to Chicago Bulls legend and six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan. Those 1990s Bulls teams remain the greatest sports dynasty in Chicago history, a golden age that's unmatched to this day.

“I talked to people around me who support me, we decided on the song,” Imanaga said. “Obviously I want to be like Mike, however he’s so great. I have to put in a lot of work to get there. Hopefully once I do, the people of Chicago, all the fans, they can accept me.”

Shota Imanaga has been a savior for the Cubs so far this season

Imanaga has certainly gotten off to a solid start in his first taste of action. The Japanese southpaw leads the league with a 6.13 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his first 17 starts with a 2.97 ERA, 3.28 FIP and 1.113 WHIP. He's shown an ability to shake off bad starts and get right back on track, emerging as a stopper atop the Cubs' rotation.

The entire rotation has been stellar. Chicago enters the second half with the fourth-lowest starter's ERA in the National League. But it's been Imanaga's starts that have kept the Cubs afloat. In his starts, the team is 13-4. Outside of those contests, they're just 24-47, a harrowing contrast as Jed Hoyer decides whether to buy or sell ahead of the trade deadline.

He'll never replicate a Jordan-esque legacy in Chicago, but if he can continue building on his impressive rookie season while maintaining his infectious energy, Imanaga has all the makings of a fan favorite on the North Side for years to come.