Boston Red Sox right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka will get his initiation to the mound in a spring season outing against a college team next month, pitching coach John Farrell said Friday.
Matsuzaka is scheduled to take the hill against Boston College in a night game on March 2 and will face his first major league opponent four days later when he pitches a preseason game against the Florida Marlins. If everything goes as expected, Ferrell suggested Matsuzaka could make his debut pitching in the season-opening series against the Kansas City Royals on April 5.
"The key is if everything goes smoothly," said Matsuzaka. "He (Farrell) is hoping that I'm able to do this."