Cubs' daily bombshell remarks on 'No WBC' "If I meet the U.S. in the finals, I will turn off the TV.""

*This content was translated by AI.

Shota Imanaga (32), a Japanese left-hander of the Chicago Cubs, shook the local media of the Major League Baseball (MLB) with his hot talk as well as his skills. At the upcoming World Baseball Classic (WBC), if the U.S., which has his country's Japan and his teammates, faces off in the final, he made a pleasant and serious abusive remark, saying, "I would rather turn off the TV."

Imanaga started the exhibition game against the San Diego Padres at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona on the 25th (Korea time) and pitched two innings of three hits and no runs.

Of the 33 pitches Imanaga threw on the day, 23 showed off stable ball control enough to be strikes, and the maximum speed was already in good shape enough to shoot 94.1 miles (about 151.4 kilometers). In particular, he faced Song Sung-moon (30), a Korean batter who was deployed as San Diego's fourth batter, once in the top of the first inning and struck out swinging.

Imanaga is a quality left-handed pitcher that Japan boasts. Imanaga, who wore a Cubs uniform ahead of the 2024 season, had an outstanding major league debut season with a 15-3 record and 2.91 ERA from his first year, and the 2025 season was not bad with a 9-8 record and 3.73 ERA in 25 games. Ahead of the 2026 season, he accepted the qualifying offer offered by the Cubs and signed a single-year contract. Imanaga's annual salary in the 2026 season is $222,25,000 (about 31.6 billion won).

After the game, the reporters' attention naturally turned to WBC. Imanaga is the 2023 WBC winner. In the tournament for the Yokohama BayStars, he recorded a 3.00 ERA with one win and no loss in three games. In particular, he started the final against the United States and became a winning pitcher by allowing one run in two innings. However, he decided not to participate in the 2026 tournament due to the club's dissuasion due to his history of being on the injured list twice last season.

According to Japanese Sports Hochi and others, Imanaga said of the Japanese national team playing in the WBC after the match, "Really great players go out. I hope all the players, including outfielder Seiya Suzuki, who plays with the Cubs, will finish the tournament without injury. If the result leads to a victory, I will be more than happy," he said.

There was also a mischievous question. If Japan and the United States face each other in the final, which side would they support. It was an awkward question of whether to choose between his affection for Japan and the United States where he is currently playing.

In response, Imana turned the scene into a sea of laughter with her unique quirky yet serious answer. "If we face each other in the final, I'll just turn off the TV," he declared, adding, "Instead, I'll bring 'Wii Sports (game machine)' and play games against computers." He turned over the embarrassing situation where it was difficult to choose either side with his own humor.

In Japan, Imana is also famous for her serious speaking style. He is said to show such a serious attitude that he is nicknamed a "throwing philosopher." The response also seems to have expressed regret over his absence from the WBC.

Imana, who is preparing for the season as the Cubs' first starter by putting down the title of WBC winner for a while. His serious attitude behind the pleasant humor proved once again why he is a "major leaguer" who combines skills and personality.

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*This content was translated by AI.