Shōta honors Zobrist with number choice

This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian’s Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CHICAGO -- As Shōta Imanaga did some research on the history of the Cubs before signing with the ballclub, the pitcher naturally studied up on the 2016 World Series champions. He envisioned what it would be like to experience a similar season and parade in Chicago.

“That left a big impression on me,” Imanaga said via Cubs software engineer Shingo Murata, who served as the pitcher’s interpreter on Friday. “I saw the images of the parade with millions and millions of people.”

Imanaga also marveled at the role Ben Zobrist played in helping end the Cubs’ 108-year World Series drought. The former super-utility man moved to different spots in the batting order and accepted whatever position he was asked to play. Zobrist also delivered the go-ahead RBI double in the 10th inning of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series.

Zobrist happened to wear No. 18, which is a number often donned by ace pitchers in Japan. Yoshinobu Yamamoto picked that number with the Dodgers, as did Japanese pitchers like Kenta Maeda, Hisashi Iwakuma, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Tomo Ohka before him.

Imanaga felt an even stronger pull to choose “18” given Zobrist’s place in Cubs history.

“Ben Zobrist was an excellent player,” Imanaga said. “He played a lot of roles. He did whatever it takes to help the team win.”

That last reason meant a lot to Zobrist, who attended Cubs Convention over the weekend to take part in a celebration of the 2016 team.

“That was probably, personally, what I felt most honored by, was that comment,” Zobrist said. “Because of course, that would be something that I'd want to be known for from my time here. So the fact that he gathered that based on his research, it's a big honor.”

Before Imanaga put on his new Cubs jersey with No. 18 stitched on the back in his introductory press conference, the pitcher reached out to Zobrist through their shared agency. He wanted to inform the former Cubs star of his number choice and the reasoning prior to announcing it publicly.

“He honored me. And I feel like, coming from an honor culture, that means a lot,” Zobrist said. “That’s amazing.”

During that 2016 season, Zobrist hit .272 with 18 homers, 31 doubles, 76 RBIs and more walks (96) than strikeouts (82). He was named to his third career All-Star team, reached the postseason for the sixth time and played in his third World Series. He took home the World Series MVP after hitting .357 (10-for-28) in seven games, including playing all 10 innings in the final, historic contest.

No wonder Imanaga wanted to wear his number.

“It’s not my number. It's the Cubs’,” Zobrist said. “And I hope he brings the next championship here.”