Will Shohei Ohtani pitch in the crucial final game? Shota Imanaga cleverly replied: I'm not a god.

Shota Imanaga, the Japanese lefty playing for the Chicago Cubs, made his spring training debut today in the game against the San Diego Padres in Arizona. He threw 2 innings, gave up 3 hits, allowed no runs, and struck out one. He faced 9 batters and threw 33 pitches, with a top speed of 94.1 mph (around 151.4 km/h). He said he feels great physically. When asked if Shohei Ohtani might pitch in a decisive moment, he wittily responded, “I’m not a god who can foresee the future.”

In the first inning, Imanaga allowed 2 hits and a successful steal, resulting in two outs with runners on second and third, but he managed to keep the opponents from scoring. In the second inning, he again gave up a hit after two outs but did not let the opposing team score.

After the game, in an interview with American media, Imanaga said, “I feel very good physically, and I successfully adjusted to a state where I could throw quality pitches today, which I’m very satisfied with.” His tone suggested he felt in good rhythm.

Regarding his fastest pitch at 94.1 mph, Imanaga first said, “I want to emphasize that velocity isn’t everything.” He then added, “Having velocity is definitely a good thing to suppress hitters, no doubt about it, and I have always pursued that. But I don’t pitch with the mindset that speed alone is enough. Still, throwing 94 mph today, I think that’s great.”

Looking ahead to the upcoming World Baseball Classic, although Imanaga is not participating, he shared his thoughts: “The Japanese team really gathered outstanding players, and Seiya Suzuki from the Cubs will also play. My biggest hope is that everyone returns healthy, and beyond that, I’d be very happy if they win the championship.” When asked which team he would support if Japan faced the USA, he laughed and said, “I’d probably switch channels and play video games then.” Among the Cubs, left-hander Matthew Boyd and outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong were selected for the US team.

In the last Classic final, Shohei Ohtani pitched in the 9th inning and struck out Mike Trout of the USA. This time, Ohtani is registered as a designated hitter and is expected not to pitch. However, former Japan manager and current Nippon Ham CBO Hideki Kuriyama said, “I think in the end he’ll say, ‘Let me pitch.’” which sparked much fan discussion.

Against this backdrop, when Imanaga was asked, “If Aaron Judge comes to bat in the 9th inning, would Ohtani pitch?” he cleverly replied, “I’m not a god who can see the future, so I don’t know if such a future will happen.”