enlarge John Ewing/Staff Photographer

Mark Wagner, the Portland Sea Dogs’ catcher, lays down a bunt during batting practice Wednesday at Hadlock Field as the team prepares for tonight’s season opener against the Connecticut Defenders. The game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

enlarge John Ewing/Staff Photographer

Junichi Tazawa will be the center of attention at Hadlock in the opener for the Sea Dogs, in his first professional start after signing a three-year contract with the Boston Red Sox.

A Quick Glance at the Sea Dogs

WHAT: Portland Sea Dogs' 16th season

WHEN: 6 tonight

WHO: Portland (Junichi Tazawa) vs. Connecticut Defenders (Daryl Maday)

WHERE: Hadlock Field

TICKETS: Available

MANAGER: Arnie Beyeler (third season)

TOP PROSPECTS: Lars Anderson, 1B; Josh Reddick, OF; Junichi Tazawa, P; Argenis Diaz, SS; Richie Lentz, P; Felix Doubront, P; Mark Wagner, C

PLAYOFF STREAK: Currently four (championship in 2006)

NUMBER OF SEA DOGS IN BOSTON: 11

NEW AT HADLOCK: Additional grill and brew pub under the left-field bleachers

BOBBLEHEAD PROMOTIONS: April 30 (David Ortiz), June 17 (Jed Lowrie), July 7 (Justin Masterson), Aug. 5 (Michael Bowden), Sept. 1 (Jon Lester)

PORTLAND — He likes hamburgers and pizza. Junichi Tazawa has adapted to American food.

But English classes? He's not as fond of those.

Tazawa would rather communicate another way – like with a fastball that dots the corner of the plate and a slider that moves.

Uncomfortable with the language but at home anywhere there's a pitching mound.

"He has a really good feel how to pitch," Portland Sea Dogs pitching coach Mike Cather said.

Tazawa, 22, will make his pro baseball debut today at Hadlock Field when the Sea Dogs open their season at 6 p.m. against the Connecticut Defenders.

Tazawa is another pitcher in the pipeline from Japan to the Red Sox – joining Daisuke Matsuzaka, Hideki Okajima and Takashi Saito, who pitched first for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

But Tazawa is different. Unlike the other three who played professionally in Japan, Tazawa is coming from the amateur ranks, having pitched in what's called the Japanese Industrial League.

Tazawa is an amateur no longer, having signed a three-year major league contract for $3.3 million.

Several teams pursued Tazawa and at least one (Texas) reportedly offered more money. But Boston's recent history of success with Japanese pitchers swayed Tazawa.

"The Red Sox have many Japanese staff and the player development system is a good one," Tazawa said through an interpreter, Kiyoshi Otani, the Sea Dogs' assistant trainer.

Otani was hired from the New England Patriots, providing Tazawa some level of support.

But getting to the U.S was not a guarantee for Tazawa. He was eligible for the draft for the Japanese league: Nippon Professional Baseball.

If drafted, Tazawa wouldn't have been eligible for the major leagues until free agency or a team released him.

Tazawa took the unique approach of asking not to be drafted so he could move on to the U.S.

"I just sent a fax to teams that were interested in me, that I don't want to go. I don't want to be drafted," Tazawa said.

On draft day, "I was nervous about it. I didn't want to hear my name."

The teams respected Tazawa's wishes, leaving him free to come here.

Now he has to prove he belongs.

"Some people said since I didn't have any experience as a Japanese pro, how can I make a success here?" Tazawa said. He plans to prove them wrong.

The Japanese Industrial League is said to be close to the minor league level in the U.S. "I've heard it's similar to the independent leagues," Sea Dogs Manager Arnie Beyeler said.

In his four-year career in the league, Tazawa pitched 53 games (13 starts), recording a 14-3 record, 11 saves and a 1.99 ERA.

His signing by the Red Sox is said to be the equivalent of Boston landing a first-round draft pick out of college.

But it does seem even better than that with his immediate assignment to the Double-A Sea Dogs.

Pitching in major league spring training, Tazawa appeared in five games (nine innings), allowing five hits, one run and one walk, striking out 10.

Red Sox Manager Terry Francona told reporters in Florida that "he just needs experience."

Tazawa pitched in a minor league spring training game and his command continued.

"He hits his spots with all his pitches," catcher Mark Wagner said. "He has some really sharp breaking stuff and a lively fastball."

Cather said the goal is to get Tazawa used to a routine.

"Probably the biggest focus is to get him acclimated to the five-day rotation," Cather said. "We're going to sit back and watch him. There hasn't been a lot of tinkering or changing or anything like that.

"We're letting the kid go out there and pitch."

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:

kthomas@pressherald.com