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2026 Fantasy Baseball Player Profile

Shota Imanaga’s 2025 campaign was a tale of two halves defined by a mid-season hamstring injury. After a dominant first half (2.65 ERA, 0.93 WHIP), the left-hander struggled following a two-month IL stint, finishing the year with a 9-8 record, a 3.73 ERA, and a career-best 0.99 WHIP across 144.2 innings. While his control remained elite (1.6 BB/9), his strikeout rate dipped to a career-low 7.3 K/9 as his average fastball velocity fell to 90.8 mph. The late-season regression led the Cubs to decline his three-year, $57.7 million team option in November, though the "Throwing Philosopher" eventually returned to the North Side after accepting a one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer.

The primary story of 2026 is Imanaga’s regained health and velocity. Manager Craig Counsell recently noted that Imanaga has been "throwing harder" early this spring in Mesa, with his fastball reportedly touching 93 mph—a product of a fully healed hamstring that had previously caused his mechanics to get "out of whack." This uptick in power is a massive development for a pitcher whose success relies on a high-spin, deceptive four-seamer. Despite his MLB commitments, Imanaga has been officially named to the Samurai Japan roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, where he is expected to be a primary arm in a rotation headlined by Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

For fantasy managers, Imanaga remains a high-floor asset with an ADP around 115. While the 200-strikeout ceiling of his 2024 rookie year may have moderated, his pristine 0.99 WHIP and the expected return of his "rising" fastball make him a stable SP3. If the increased spring velocity translates to the regular season, he could easily reclaim his status as an NL Cy Young dark horse. He is scheduled to make his first Cactus League start on February 25 against the Padres before departing for the WBC.