Overview
- - The 27-year-old right-hander faced five hitters in West Palm Beach, striking out Carlos Correa, Jake Meyers and Taylor Trammell after getting Jose Altuve and Nick Allen to ground out.
- - Fastball velocity sat in the low-to-mid 90s as Imai filled the zone and showcased his full mix except for the curveball, according to pitching coach Josh Miller.
- - Teammates praised the arsenal, with Trammell saying he had never seen a pitch like the splitter, and Altuve noting a sharp slider that hid its spin.
- - Miller described the slider as a unique offering that “backs up” rather than breaking glove-side, producing awkward swings and weak contact.
- - Signed to a three-year, $54 million deal after a three-time NPB All-Star run (58-45, 3.15 ERA), Imai drew big-league nerves acknowledged by manager Joe Espada as the club evaluates him for a prominent rotation role.