Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga became a viral sensation after he repeatedly doused himself in beer during the team's clubhouse celebration for clinching a postseason berth.
The celebration occurred Thursday after the Cubs defeated the Miami Marlins 2-1 at Wrigley Field, securing their place in the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
When asked about his unconventional celebration, Imanaga described it as "Japanese misogi," a form of ritual purification. "This is Japanese style," he explained while holding two beer bottles. "Japanese misogi."
During an interview with Marquee Sports Network's Taylor McGregor amid the champagne shower, Imanaga responded with "Yummy!" to being drenched by his teammates. The Cubs' social media team also shared the beer-spraying moment with the caption, "Who needs bottle service when you have self-service?"
Seiya Suzuki's 26th home run of the season tied the game in the fifth inning, and Nico Hoerner drove in Ian Happ for the game-winning run in the sixth. Additionally, Pete Crow-Armstrong stole his 40th base of the season, achieving a 40 home run and 40 stolen base season, becoming only the seventh player in MLB history to do so.
Imanaga, a 33-year-old left-hander, has been a consistent presence in the Cubs' starting rotation this season. He finished the regular season with an 11-10 record, a 3.74 ERA, 171 strikeouts, and 173 ⅓ innings pitched.
The Cubs' 2026 playoff appearance marks their second in a row. Last season, the team finished with a 92-70 record, advancing past the wild-card round before being eliminated in the NLDS. Imanaga, a two-time All-Star, holds a career 3.44 ERA and a 35-21 record.