New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka feels ready to make his debut for his team this spring season after suffering no setback in a two-inning simulated game on Saturday.

The Yankees are still taking a cautious approach on Tanaka, who was limited to just 20 starts in his rookie season last year after suffering a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

Since the offseason started, Tanaka has been undergoing rehabilitation program to strengthen his throwing arm, but there are still doubts if he can continue pitching without undergoing Tommy John surgery. But after a recent simulated game, Tanaka sounded positive about his current condition and declared he is ready to play.

"Absolutely. Whenever, wherever they want me to go," Tanaka said when asked if he is ready to pitch in actual game this spring season. "I think I'm ready to go into a game."

Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild also liked what he saw from Tanaka in the simulated game as the Japanese pitcher managed to display his full arsenal without experiencing any trouble in his right elbow.

"He's exactly where you want him to be at this point in spring training," Rothschild said via YES Network. "It's good to see him get out there and be able to go through all his pitches and have a good day of work and feel good after, and if things progress the way they are, I'm very confident he'll be ready."

Tanaka, who signed a lucrative seven-year deal worth $155 million with the Yankees last year, was a strong candidate for the American League Rookie of the Year award last season before missing more than two months of action due to the elbow injury.

Following a long rehabilitation program, Tanaka returned to pitch in two more games before the season ended. In 20 starts last season, the 26-year-old Japanese went 13-5 with a 2.77 ERA with 141 strikeouts for the Yankees, whose rotation was hit by injuries last season.

Aside from Tanaka, starting pitchers CC Sabathia, Michael Pineda and Ivan Nova also missed the majority of the season due to injuries. Sabathia, who was bothered by an ailing knee last season, will play in a simulated game Sunday, while Michael Pineda will thrown against Tampa Bay Rays on Monday.

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