Why Imanaga's Splitter Holds Batters to .175
We dig into why Imanaga's splitter works in MLB — 41.9% whiff rate and a remarkable 20.0% hard-hit rate.
Shota Imanaga's splitter has produced elite 2026 numbers: a .175 batting average against and 41.9% whiff rate. With MLB averages near 28%, his splitter ranks near the top.
The hard-hit rate of just 20.0% stands out. Batters either miss entirely, or connect but cannot drive the ball.
A key factor is the velocity gap and tunneling effect with his 4-seam. Because both pitches emerge from the same tunnel, hitters struggle to identify the splitter in time.
The question for the back half of the season is how he fares against lefties. For now, he dominates right-handed batters completely.