Masahiro Tanaka spoke about his up-and-down first season in the big leagues on Wednesday, saying he had to put his varied experiences to good use in the future.
"The different experiences I had this year are now assets," the 25-year-old Tanaka told a news conference in New York.
"Now it's up to me to make the most of them."
The pitcher, who missed a large chunk of the season due to elbow trouble, said staying in the rotation was his biggest goal. On a Yankees pitching staff beset by injuries, only 39-year-old countryman Hiroki Kuroda never missed his turn on the mound for the Bronx Bombers.
"I became aware how hard it is to keep your place in the rotation," Tanaka said. "Over and over I was amazed by Kuroda's ability to keep pitching.
"Next year, I want to do what's necessary in order to pitch like that."
Tanaka arrived in New York with more incredible fanfare, signing a seven-year deal with the New York Yankees worth $155 million and chartering a Boeing 787 to carry his small entourage and their belongings to New York.