TOKYO – There were a smattering of “P-C-A” chants for center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong in the Cubs’ first exhibition game at the Tokyo Dome this past weekend. By the second game, they were undeniable.
“I get treated incredibly well in Chicago, that’s no secret,” Crow-Armstrong said. “I definitely don’t want to start comparing; that is what I’m not looking to do. But coming across the world to hear that was arguably the most special thing that’s happened to me in baseball at this point.”
It was clear that the Cubs’ Shota Imaanga and Seiya Suzuki – who grew up in Japan, played Nippon Professional Baseball before going to MLB, and represented the Japanese national team – were going to be fan favorites.
It wasn’t so obvious that Crow-Armstrong, who has played 136 major-league games across two seasons, would connect so quickly.
“It makes sense,” manager Craig Counsell said. “Pete’s, in a way, a lot like Shota. You can see it with Pete, and I think fans connect with that.”
Neither Crow-Armstrong nor Imanaga is afraid to react with facial expressions or body language. Those transcend language barriers.
After the Cubs’ exhibition game Sunday against the Yomiuri Giants, Crow-Armstrong was even the subject of a line of questioning from a Japanese reporter to Counsell.
“It was a game that shows what Pete can do on the field,” Counsell said then. “He can do everything, really. He can affect the game in many ways. So, you saw the speed on the bases. You saw the defense – cutting the ball off in the gap was a brilliant play to keep that to a single. So, that’s what he offers on a daily basis.”
The follow-up question was about Crow-Armstrong’s hair – which is currently bleach blonde with blue stars.
“Last year he went with blue hair – ehh,” Counsell said to laughter. “This year, the stars, it’s improvement. Just like a rookie gets better the second year, he’s getting better.”
Crow-Armstrong enjoyed the whole atmosphere in the Tokyo Dome, and especially waving back at fans who greeted him from the outfield stands.
“It’s a real love for baseball that they have out here,” he said. “I wasn’t coming in here expecting [chants for me]. And that was the coolest thing I’ve ever been a part of.”
Imanaga to set tone
The Cubs are technically the home team for the two-game Tokyo Series against the Dodgers. So, Imanaga is set to throw the first pitch of the 2025 MLB season on Tuesday. Superstar Shohei Ohtani is expected to lead off for the Dodgers, setting up quite the face-off.
“If I say [what I’m going to throw] the first pitch, it’s like saying I’m going to go scissors in rock-paper-scissors,” Imanga said through interpreter Edwin Stanberry. “So, I can’t say. But I can probably say the 25th pitch. I’ll go paper.”
Shaw to debut
The Cubs plan to have top prospect Matt Shaw make his major-league debut on Tuesday.
“Waking up, being in the hotel, stuff like that, the emotions I’m sure will be pretty strong,” Shaw said Friday. “But once I get to the park and I’m here and moving around and warm and playing, I feel like I’ll be pretty focused and locked in on the day. And then I’m sure afterwards, once everything fades and I can take a breath, it’ll be more of the same – a lot of emotions.”