Daisuke Matsuzaka stepped into the bullpen for the first time during camp on Friday and threw 32 pitches in his still unfamiliar white No. 99 Chunichi Dragons uniform.
"I'm getting better, I was able to throw more than planned," Matsuzaka was quoted as saying to Nikkan Sports following his session.
Matsuzaka is preparing to embark on his 20th professional season. This will be his first with the Dragons, and in the Central League, after his highly publicized move to Chunichi after spending the past three seasons with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.