Summary Tanaka will probably pitch a simulated game before being scheduled for his first start in game.
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Japanese hurler Masahiro Tanaka is moving closer to his first game of spring training for the New York Yankees.
The Yankees have been keeping a close eye on Tanaka, looking for trouble related to the partially torn right elbow ligament that sidelined him for part of last season.
He threw a 30-pitch bullpen session on Wednesday at the Yankees spring training facility in Tampa, Florida.
"Gradually, I ve been able to build up pretty well thus far," Tanaka said in comments posted on the team s website. "Whenever they want me to go, I think I m ready to go."
Tanaka will probably pitch a simulated game before being scheduled for his first start in an exhibition game.
"We re getting closer," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi, predicting Tanaka s first exhibition game would be late next week.
