Shota signed a four-year Major League contract with the Cubs Jan. 10, 2024...Pitched eight seasons for the Yokohama DeNa Baystars in the Japan Central League (2016-23), going 64-50 with a 3.18 ERA (354 ER/1,002.2 IP) in 165 games...Participated in the 2023 World Baseball Classic for Team Japan, going 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA (2 ER/6.0 IP) with seven strikeouts and no walks allowed in three games (one start)...Started and earned the win in the championship game vs. Team USA (1 ER/2.0 IP)...In his final year with Yokohama in 2023, led the league with a career-high 174 strikeouts...In 2022, led the Japan Central League among qualified pitchers with a 0.94 WHIP and was tied for the league-lead with two shutouts...Is a two-time NBP All-Star (2019, 2023)...Represented Japan in the 2019 exhibition games against Mexico and the 2019 WBSC Premier12...Pitched for Canberra of the Australian Baseball League during the offseason following the 2018 campaign... made six starts, going 4-0 with a 0.51 ERA (2 ER/35.0 IP)...Struck out 57 batters, compared to one walk...Was selected by Yokohama in the first round of the 2015 NBP draft out of Komazawa University in Tokyo.
2023
Went 7-4 with a 2.80 ERA (46 ER/148.0 IP) in 22 games (20 starts) in his final season with Yokohama...Led the Japan Central League with a career-high 174 strikeouts...Earned his second career NPB All-Star nod...Began the campaign by participating in the World Baseball Classic with Team Japan, going 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA (2 ER/6.0 IP) with seven strikeouts and no walks allowed in three games (one start)...Started and earned the win in the championship game vs. Team USA (1 ER/2.0 IP).
2022
During the 2022 season, went 11-4 with a 2.26 ERA (36 ER/143.2 IP) in 21 games...The 2.26 ERA was his lowest mark in a single season in Japan...Led the NPB among qualified pitchers with a 0.94 WHIP, was tied for league-lead with two shutouts, while his 2.26 ERA ranked third...Tossed a no-hitter June 7 vs. the Nippon Ham Fighters.
2021
In 2021, pitched in 19 games, going 5-5 with a 3.08 ERA (41 ER/120.0 IP)...Struck out 110 batters, compared to 26 walks...Held opponents to a .239 average against (97-for-476).
2020
During the 2020 season, made nine starts, going 5-3 with a 3.23 ERA (19 ER/53.0 IP)...Surrendered only two home runs in 224 batters faced, posting a 0.9% home run rate, the lowest mark of his career...The two home runs allowed were tied for the fewest among pitchers in the NBP with at least 200 batters faced.
2019
In 2019, made a career-high 25 starts, posting career-bests in wins (13) and strikeouts (186), going 13-7 with a 2.91 ERA (55 ER/170.0 IP)...Led the NBP with a career-high three shutouts and finished second in both wins and strikeouts, trailing Shun Yamaguchi (15 wins, 188 strikeouts)...Was named an NBP All-Star for the first time in his career...Prior to the campaign, represented Japan in the 2019 exhibition games against Mexico and the 2019 WBSC Premier12.
2018
In 2018, went 4-11 with a 6.80 ERA (64 ER/84.2 IP) in 23 games (16 starts)...Following the season, pitched for Canberra in the Australian Baseball League, making six starts, going 4-0 with a 0.51 ERA (2 ER/35.0 IP)...Struck out 57 batters, compared to one walk...Posted a 0.42 WHIP with Canberra, becoming the only starting pitcher in ABL history with at least one start in a season to post a WHIP under 0.50.
2017
During the 2017 season, went 11-7 with a 2.98 ERA (49 ER/148.0 IP) in 24 starts...Was one of three pitchers in the NPB with at least three complete games and two shutouts.
2016
Made his professional debut in 2016 with Yokohama, going 8-9 with a 2.93 ERA (44 ER/135.1 IP) in 22 starts...Held opponents to a .200 average against (108-for-541), while posting a 7.2 hits per 9.0 IP mark, the second-lowest among NPB pitchers with at least 100.0 IP.
