Masahiro Tanaka may pitch, but the Yankees’ $155 million pitcher is not born to run

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New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (19) throws in the bullpen during spring training baseball practice Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

TAMPA, Fla. – As dozens of cameras recorded his every move and perhaps 150 media watched on a cool and breezy morning, Masahiro Tanaka slowly jogged four laps on the warning track around a back field following his first official workout with the New York Yankees.

The $155 million man looked gassed.

“I actually didn’t know I was going to run this much,” Tanaka said through a translator. “And I’m a little bit of a slow runner. But that part I really can’t help.”

Tanaka played catch with countryman Hiroki Kuroda before throwing 32 pitches Saturday in a bullpen group that included ace CC Sabathia, Kuroda and Ivan Nova.

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