Breaking; Just Now, Craig Counsell Head Of Cubs Announced The Arrival Of Another Super-star After Successful Rehab Start
CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga is set to rejoin the Major League roster next week after making a successful rehab appearance for Triple-A Iowa, signaling his recovery from a left hamstring injury.
Imanaga, who has been on the 15-day injured list, pitched Friday night in a rehab outing that impressed both his teammates and coaching staff. Veteran starter Jameson Taillon, watching from home, took the initiative to log into the team’s Ivy database to view Imanaga’s performance and came away encouraged.
“From watching his outing last night,” Taillon said on Saturday, “he’s right.”
That assessment was echoed by manager Craig Counsell, who confirmed before Saturday’s game against the Seattle Mariners that Imanaga looked ready to return. The Cubs now expect him to make his next start in the big leagues, most likely during the upcoming four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals, which begins Monday at Busch Stadium.
Counsell, however, refrained from revealing the exact date of Imanaga’s next start, keeping his pitching plans close to the vest. Based on the timing of Imanaga’s rehab outing on Friday, he would be on regular rest to take the mound as early as Wednesday or Thursday.
“[He’s] going to make his next start in the big leagues,” Counsell said simply, confirming the lefty’s return without elaborating on the rotation schedule.
Imanaga’s return will be a welcome boost for the Cubs, who are navigating a critical stretch in the NL Central. The 30-year-old rookie from Japan made a strong impression in the early part of the season, delivering several quality starts and quickly becoming a key piece of the pitching staff before his hamstring issue sidelined him.
As the Cubs look to regain momentum in the playoff race, having Imanaga back in the fold adds both depth and stability to their rotation. All eyes will now be on the upcoming Cardinals series, where fans can expect to see the promising southpaw back on the mound in Cubs blue.
