Kawakami creates buzz at Braves camp

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- As approximately 20 Japanese media members attempted to get an overhead view of his first bullpen session in a Major League setting, Kenshin Kawakami found himself looking to his left to view the darting sinker Derek Lowe was unleashing off the adjacent mound.

"I really wanted to see Derek Lowe throw today," Kawakami said through his team-assigned interpreter.

Braves manager Bobby Cox was anxious to see a number of hurlers throw while his team held its first workout for pitchers and catchers on Sunday afternoon at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex.

But there was certainly enhanced interest in the opportunity to finally watch Kawakami, who is slated to become the first Japanese player to play for the Braves at the Major League level. Before Sunday, Cox had only seen the 33-year-old right-hander's delivery via video.

"If he's as good as the videotape, we've got a real good [pitcher]," Cox said before watching Kawakami's bullpen session. "They never got a ball out of the infield on the tape."

When a reporter asked who created the video, Cox smiled and said, "His agent."

Just wanting to get loose, Kawakami didn't exactly display the same kind of impressive stuff that Lowe, Tommy Hanson and Peter Moylan showed during the first workout, but he did produce a brief laugh when he uncharacteristically lost control of a throw that sailed out of the bullpen.

"He has outstanding control," Cox said of Kawakami, who is slated to serve as the fourth starter. "He doesn't walk anybody. He just got loose today. He wanted to take it easy."

Over the next few weeks, the Braves will attempt to get a better feel for Kawakami and get him ready to pitch once every five days. With his schedule in Japan, the veteran hurler primarily started once every six or seven days.

While Kawakami is attempting to get a feel for his new environment, Moylan is starting to prove he might indeed be ready by Opening Day. When the Australian reliever announced this goal three weeks ago, it seemed unlikely. He underwent Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery on May 8 and pitchers typically are sidelined a full 12 months before returning.

But Moylan didn't seem to show any limitations while throwing live batting practice that certainly impressed Cox, who said there was a chance the side-winding reliever could be ready by Opening Day.

"I don't know if he's supposed to look this good this early," Cox said. "He looked real good."

As for Rafael Soriano, his first day in camp was spent in the same idle fashion that he displayed most of last year. Soriano said that his right elbow, which was surgically repaired in August, is healthy. But he didn't participate in Sunday's workout because of an upper respiratory infection.

Boone Logan and Eric O'Flaherty, two left-handed relievers acquired this offseason, produced solid first impressions during the workout. O'Flaherty throws a hard sinker and the 6-foot-5 Logan possesses a plus fastball and an effective slider.

The most impressive slider shown during the workout might have been thrown by Tommy Hanson, who is considered one of the game's top prospects. Cox said Hanson's slider reminded him of the one thrown by John Smoltz.