The New York Yankees' latest Japanese import, Kei Igawa, departed for the United States on Sunday, to continue his preparations for the Yankees upcoming spring training camp in Florida.
Igawa, who signed a five-year deal thought to be worth $20 million with the Yankees in December, had staff scurrying to get him on an All Nippon Airways flight after arriving at Narita airport just 30 minutes before takeoff.
"I'll be playing in the United States now, but I want to do things in the same way I normally would," said Igawa, who will continue tuning up in Tampa, Fla., where the Yankees camp begins Feb. 15.