Yankees' Tanaka throws first simulated game

TAMPA, Fla. -- New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka looked sharp in his first simulated game.

The right-hander threw 23 of 29 pitches for strikes Saturday in the session broken down into two innings. The Japanese ace faced nine batters, giving up one single and striking out one.

"Overall I thought it was really good," Tanaka said through an interpreter. "I think all of the pitches I threw today, pretty satisfied with."

Tanaka could be ready to make his first exhibition start within a week.

"We'll see how he is tomorrow and the next couple days, and judge based on that," Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. "I think everything was where it should be. He's had no problems. He's using all his pitches. It was a good day of work."

Tanaka feels ready to make his exhibition debut.

"Absolutely," he said. "Whenever, wherever they want me to go, I think I'm ready to go into a game."

Tanaka missed 2 1/2 months while rehabilitating a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow and returned for two late September starts. Boston chased him with an eight-run second inning in his finale on Sept. 27.

"It's good," Tanaka said. "I really don't think about it at all."

Signed to a $155 million, seven-year contract in January 2014, Tanaka went 13-5 with a .277 ERA over 20 starts.