Shota Imanaga Will Rejoin Cubs Next Week After Hamstring Injury Rehab

The Chicago Cubs will get a major boost to the rotation next week.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters that Imanaga would be returning to the team next week after he had a successful rehab start on Friday night.

"Everything went great," Counsell told reporters. "Did what we hoped he would do. He's in a position to be ready. So he's going to join us in St. Louis and we'll figure out the next steps."

Imanaga has been out since May 4 with a left hamstring strain that he suffered while covering first base. Prior to the injury, he had gone 3-2 with a 2.84 ERA in 44.2 innings.

He won the NL Rookie of the Year Award in 2024 after an excellent first season where he went 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA in 173.1 innings. He will reclaim his spot at the top of the rotation and provide some much-needed strength to a rotation already depleted after losing Justin Steele for the season.

Chicago is currently 45-30 and leads the NL Central by 4.5 games. With Imanaga returning to the rotation, the Cubs will look to reach the postseason for the first time since 2020.