Kevin Kernan

Kevin Kernan

MLB

Masahiro Tanaka unfazed by hype with debut approaching

TAMPA — This is what we know about Masahiro Tanaka after six weeks of spring training. He might be the coolest customer in Yankees camp other than Derek Jeter.

That should serve him well — if his stuff is good enough to beat major league hitters.

Tanaka held his first press gathering Tuesday since Joe Girardi officially named him the Yankees $175 million No. 4 starter. His first MLB start will come against the Blue Jays in Toronto on April 4.

“Nothing too special, I’m just going to prepare for that day,’’ Tanaka said through an interpreter.

Asked about facing Toronto, he said: “I understand how good the lineup is for the Blue Jays but once I get on the mound, I just have to go out there and do my best and get some outs.’’

Is he excited?

“Maybe it’s because I’m not thinking about it too much, but right now I am not overly excited,’’ Tanaka said, “but as we get closer to game day, I’m sure that excitement will come along.’’

Eleven lockers to his right, Michael Pineda was thrilled with being named the Yankees’ fifth starter and talked about the excitement of this day.

This is spring training and Tanaka is still trying to figure out so much. We’re still trying to figure out what type of pitcher he will be in the majors. The Yankees have many question marks, but Tanaka is the greatest riddle of 2014.

Hall of Famer Goose Gossage, who pitched with so much emotion, was asked what he thinks of Tanaka?

“I really like him,’’ Gossage said. “He’s a great kid. He’s got a great personality, it’s fun-loving. That is a great indicator with all the focus on him. He is fun to be around. In a way, he’s a little old school. I’m pretty amazed at how relaxed he seems under the circumstances.’’

Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson also praised Tanaka’s strong presence, saying: “I know he just got here but it seems like he’s been here for a long time.’’

Tanaka said he had no preference to pitch against the lowly Astros or the Blue Jays.

As for his first spring training in Major League Baseball, Tanaka was all business.

“I feel that I was able to come out of it without any big issues or problems,’’ he said.

Texas’ Yu Darvish has a neck problem and has been scratched from his Opening Day start. There have been too many pitchers injured this spring. Tanaka is healthy and that is huge.

Tanaka is looking at his first MLB start as just another game. He said he has never been to Canada. His wife, pop star Mai Satoda, is going to the game, but no other family members are going.

What’s the biggest baseball difference now that he has been here for six weeks? This is where Tanaka let down the shield a bit.

“I look at it as something completely different,’’ Tanaka said. “I’m just going to have to go into games, get a feel for the batters here and sort of study them from here on.’’

That tells you how different this journey is for Tanaka. He must get a better feel how to attack MLB players. In his last outing against the Twins he fell behind eight of the first 10 batters.

The Twins hitters were not overly impressed, much like the Braves’ Jason Heyward was not overly impressed with Tanaka’s “mix and match stuff.’’

Girardi said the Yankees wanted to separate Hiroki Kuroda and Tanaka in the rotation and by being the fourth starter, Tanaka gets some extra rest. The Yankees are doing everything possible to keep the weight of the world off Tanaka’s shoulders.

Tanaka doesn’t seem overly concerned about anything. He has presence. Now we just have to see if he has the stuff. Tanaka may not be overly excited by all this, but this promises to be one fascinating and exciting debut.