It’s still early in the MLB season, but it’s never too early to start thinking about end-of-year awards as we are now a third of the way through the season.
One Chicago Cubs player has surprised everyone and is continuing to hold a sizable lead for one prestigious award.
MLB.com shared its updated Rookie of the Year watchlist and Shota Imanaga of the Cubs continues to hold on to the top spot in the National League, though he is starting to face some stiff competition from a couple of aces in fellow countryman Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Paul Skenes.
Keep a close eye on these rookies 👀 pic.twitter.com/Xx0ul8muBC
Yamamoto got all the attention this offseason after signing a 12-year, $325 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and since his first start of the season when he gave up five runs and made it through just one inning, he has been everything the Dodgers had hoped for with a 6-2 record and 3.32 ERA so far.
Imanaga was seen as somewhat of a consolation prize for whoever didn’t get Yamamoto, and the Cubs landed him for just four years and $53 million, yet he has not only made himself the early favorite for Rookie of the Year, but he is at the front of the line for the Cy Young award as well.
Imanaga is 5-1 with a 1.86 ERA after suffering his first loss in his most recent start when he gave up seven runs to the Milwaukee Brewers.
Prior to that, he was 5-0 with an 0.84 ERA.
Skenes is off to a strong start to his career after being called up a few weeks ago, but Imanaga will run away with the ROY if he can maintain his current pace.