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Masahiro Tanaka threw his first bullpen session under the watch of the New York Yankees on Thursday.

Tanaka agreed to a seven-year, $155 million deal with the Yankees last month.

The Japanese right-hander breezed through a 25-pitch bullpen session to catcher Francisco Cervelli at New York's minor league complex.

"The fastball travels so well. I think his mechanics are so smooth," Cervelli said. "Japanese pitchers, they all got five, six pitches. So it's fun just to be behind the plate and catch it."

Via Associated Press