Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka meets the media yesterday, with translator Sachiyo Sekiguchi.

AP / Chitose Suzuki

FORT MYERS, Fla. — If the winning personality new Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka displayed yesterday in a news conference at the team’s City of Palms Park matches his performances on the mound, the right-hander from Japan will prove to be a bargain even at the hefty $103.1-million it cost the organization to secure his services for the next six years.

Matsuzaka, smiling frequently and appearing calm as he sat on a chair at a table on top of the Red Sox’ dugout, faced 120 credentialed media from Japan and dozens more from this country.

The 26-year-old showed a sense of humor, confidence and even a touch of mischievousness through translator Sachiyo Sekiguchi in the roughly 30-minute session, which was broadcast live on TV in Japan, where it was 7 a.m.

What pitch, he was asked, would be his first one in the major leagues?

He smiled at the question, which was posed in Japanese, and then quickly answered with a chuckle.

“I would like to pitch a fastball for my first pitch. I would like my first batter, if he is listening, to try not to hit the ball,” said Matsuzaka.

Another member of the Japanese media asked him about who he would be playing catch with as the Red Sox paired off to get loose for workouts.

After initially saying he likely would play catch with fellow Japanese pitcher Hideki Okajima, an impish smile spread across his face.

“I would like to play catch with all of the pitchers, particularly [Tim] Wakefield. I would like to catch his knuckleball, but maybe I won’t be able to catch it,” he said, laughing again.

The Sox, of course, did not shell out a $51.1-million posting fee to the Seibu Lions just to talk contract with Matsuzaka and his agent, Scott Boras, and then another $52 million to sign him to a deal, for his news conference charm or sense of humor.

They signed him to bolster the team’s starting rotation. They signed him to continue his pitching success, which has included a 108-60 record and a 2.95 earned-run average in eight Japanese League seasons and the Most Valuable Player Award from last year’s World Baseball Classic, when he pitched (3-0, 1.38 ERA) Japan to the title.

Not surprisingly, as Dice-K’s first official spring-training toss won’t come to pass until Sunday, when the Red Sox hold their first pitchers-and-catchers workouts, there is pressure on the 6-foot, 187-pounder.

But, if Matsuzaka’s body language and words are any indication, it doesn’t appear as if such pressure will faze him.

While success isn’t guaranteed and while there are other adjustments Dice-K will have to make — strong offensive lineups from top to bottom; pitching in a five-man rotation instead of a six-man rotation; strike zones, and even the baseballs — his poise and good humor yesterday suggests that he is comfortable with his place in a Red Sox uniform.

“I have received a lot of expectations all my life, but I always remembered the most important thing is to play ball and have fun,” said Matsuzaka. “I have done so and I will continue to do so and so I will meet everyone’s expectations.

“The scale of the contract does not determine how I play baseball. I feel responsibility, but I am not pressured,” he said.

He not only feels responsibility to the Red Sox, but also to young players back in Japan. It wasn’t so long ago that he was a youngster, watching with great interest as right-hander Hideo Nomo became the first Japanese League star in his prime to play in the major leagues as a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995.

“When Nomo started playing, I was in junior high. For me, who wanted to play in the big leagues some day, the first game was very shocking, very impressive. I remember it clearly. For that I will be playing my best so all young players in Japan who are dreaming of being professional can look up to me,” said Dice-K.

So spring training will begin for Dice-K. His every move will be scrutinized by the large media contingent. If the extra media members become too much for the Sox, several of whom are no fans of the media to begin with, Matsuzaka said he will apologize to any teammate who feels inconvenienced.

He says he is learning English, with communication between himself, manager Terry Francona, the coaching staff and his teammates a priority for him. He also said he wouldn’t change his style of pitching, which features fastballs high in the strike zone, and that he thought he would have an early advantage facing hitters who haven’t seen him before.

Matsuzaka also said that he is “more excited about” pitching for the Red Sox than pitching in last spring’s World Baseball Classic.

But what about the gyro ball, the special pitch he reportedly boasts, the one that has the spin of a football spiral and downward movement? Does he really throw such a pitch? Or is it pure Matsuzaka lore?

Again, Matsuzaka’s face lit up in a smile as he pondered his response to the final question of the news conference.

“I knew that question was coming,” said Dice-K, a mischievous look playing about his eyes. “I was preparing optional answers for that question. Should I say I throw that ball? Or should I say, what ball are you referring to?”

And then he kept the mystery alive.

“If I have a chance,” said Matsuzaka, “I will pitch that ball.”

The Red Sox can only hope that he will have the chance to use that pitch right through the World Series this season.

skrasner@projo.com