MESA, Ariz. – Cubs reliever Adbert Alzolay walked into the clubhouse and spotted lefty starter Shota Imanaga at his locker, brow furrowed, in an interview.
Alzolay strode over and patted Imanaga on the chest.
“Hey, good job yesterday,” he said. “You feel good?”
Imanaga nodded, his expression brightening.
“Good. Nice. Nice,” Alzolay said. “The split, nasty. I love it.”
“Thank you,” Imanaga said.
It was the day after Imanaga’s first spring training start, a solid showing against the Dodgers at Camelback Ranch. In postgame interviews, Imanaga had honed in on ways to improve.