Cubs player Shota Imanaga, who will be playing in the major leagues for the first time this season, had his first day of camp in Arizona and immediately practiced pitching in the bullpen.
The Cubs started battery camp on the 14th in Mesa, Arizona.
Pitcher Imanaga, who is challenging the major leagues for the first time this season, took to the field just after 11 a.m. After exercising his body by playing catch, he immediately entered the bullpen from the first day, changing his curveball and slider against regular catcher Gorms. He threw 31 pitches.
Pitcher Imanaga, who is aiming to join the opening rotation, attended his pitching practice with Coach Counsel and other leaders, showing the high expectations they have for him.
Pitcher Imanaga was interviewed after practice and reflected on his pitching from the bullpen, saying, ``I think it was good considering it was my first time pitching on a dirt mound in the United States.I still have a lot of work to do with my curveball, so I want to improve it from now on.''
Regarding the challenge of taking on a new stage, he said, ``My way of thinking and everything I've done will be different here, so I want to strike a good balance between incorporating new things and putting myself out there.'' I'm really looking forward to finding areas for improvement and overcoming them."
Also, on this day, Seiya Suzuki, who is training on his own before the fielders' camp on the 19th, was free batting, and 6 of his 29 swings went over the outfield fence, making it his third time this year. The content suggested that his preparations are progressing smoothly ahead of his upcoming major league camp.