Chicago Cubs: Counsell takes heat after feeble Wild Card Game Two loss, makes plans for Game Three 3 Oct 1, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Shota Imanaga (18) leaves the mound for a pitching change after giving up a two-run home run in the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres during game two of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Craig Counsell shares important update on Shota Imanaga

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Zack Pearson | Last updated Feb 20, 2026 11:03 AM ET

The Chicago Cubs are set to open up their exhibition schedule on Friday when they take on the Chicago White Sox in Arizona. This will give us our first look at this Cubs roster in terms of who will make the roster and who can improve their stock.

As we enter Spring Training, there are still a lot of questions about this team. One of the questions in the rotation is about Shota Imanga. After a injury-plagued season in 2025, the Cubs declined his three-year option, making him a free agent. However, Imanaga accepted the $22 million qualifying offer to remain with the Cubs for another season.

With Chicago’s starting pitching depth being strong, it takes the pressure off of Imanaga. And on Thursday, manager Craig Counsell shared some positive news.

Craig Counsell shares positive update on Shota Imanaga

After an average season for Imanaga that saw some ups and downs, the focus will be on him being healthy. He enters camp healthy, which is great news moving forward.

With Imanaga being healthy, Counsell said his fastball velocity is up and believes the bad mechanics he showed last year were from the injury.

Here is what Counsell said about Imanaga via Bruce Levine of 670 The Score:

Counsell told us today in Mesa that Shota Imanaga’s throwing his fastball harder, is mostly a product of his hamstring being healthy. Counsell believes the injury created some bad mechanical issues while the pitcher compensated for the injury.

— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) February 19, 2026

Imanaga only pitched in 25 games last season, coming off a big 2024 season. His ERA climbed to 3.73, including a 4.70 ERA in the second half of the season. He struck out 117 batters in the 144.2 innings pitched.

With Cade Horton returning from injury and the addition of Edward Cabrera to go with Matthew Boyd, there won’t be as much pressure on Imanaga. And that might be a great thing as he can settle into that fourth spot in the rotation.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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