WATCH: Shota Imanaga on his recovery timeline for his hamstring injury

Tony Crumpton - Senior Editor - 16 hours ago

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga met with the media ahead of Tuesday's game against the San Francisco Giants about the next steps after he sustained a mild hamstring strain that put him on the IL, a realistic timeline for his return to the rotation and much more.

Watch the pregame video below:

Video summary/cliff-notes:

(00:08) Imanaga says he spoke with doctors and was told it's a mild hamstring strain. He notes that muscle injuries typically improve day by day and feels he's already recovering well on the second day.

(01:23) He expected the diagnosis somewhat and was relieved it wasn't an arm or elbow issue. He's staying positive because he can still throw, and his pitching arm is unaffected.

(01:50) Imanaga doesn't have a clear recovery timeline yet since it's his first hamstring injury. He plans to take his rehab one day at a time and communicate when he feels ready to progress.

(02:43) He contacted teammate Justin Steele, who had a similar injury, for advice. Steele told him not to rush rehab and take it slow. Imanaga finds comfort in having someone experienced to consult.

(03:37) The doctors said there’s no direct correlation between the hamstring injury and the earlier quad cramp he experienced during the Pirates game, though Imanaga reflects that there may have been shortcomings in his physical preparation.

(04:39) He sees this as a chance to reassess his conditioning and aims to improve his overall physical readiness.

(05:14) Hydration was already a strong focus for him, drinking over 2–3 liters of water before games. Despite that, the injury still occurred, so he plans to reevaluate his hydration strategy.

(06:13) Imanaga is surprised by the recent lower-body issues since he’s never had them before. He believes there were gaps in his warm-up or conditioning routines that he now wants to address more closely.

(07:30) He mentions that playing catch should not be restricted, and rehab for his leg will begin once swelling and bleeding in the muscle subside. For now, he's keeping the hamstring rested.