MLB places a premium on left-handed pitchers

TOKYO — Congratulations to Shota Imanaga, the ace pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, on his selection to the 2024 MLB All-Star Game. Imanaga, a former member of the Yokohama BayStars who was posted at the end of the 2023 season, after leading the Central League in strikeouts, has been one of the most steady, reliable starters in all of MLB. At All-Star selection time, his record stood at 8-2 with a 2.97 ERA, 12^th in MLB.

MLB teams absolutely love left-handed pitchers because they are so rare. The theory is batters are not used to hitting against them so the more lefties the better.

As young hitters first learn their craft in Little League and high school, the reasoning goes, they face left-handed pitchers far less often than right-handed pitchers. This lack of familiarity reduces hitters’ ability to react quickly and effectively when incoming pitches come from the south side.