Daisuke Matsuzaka fires a pitch in to Jason Varitek during a 10-minute mound session yesterday.

AP / Steven Senne

FORT MYERS, Fla. — It was a day of firsts for new Boston Red Sox right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka.

His first official workout in a Red Sox uniform. His first bullpen session. His first PFP — pitcher’s fielding practice — experience, complete with Boston manager Terry Francona and Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson alternately blasting soft baseballs at him, peppering the former Japanese League star with blast after blast, hockey-goalie style, in one of the drills.

It was also Dice-K’s first day as a Red Sox baggage handler.

As the team left the clubhouse for the field yesterday morning to stretch in preparation for the pitchers-and-catchers workout at the Sox’ minor-league complex, Matsuzaka was carrying the equipment bag belonging to catcher and team captain Jason Varitek.

Call it a bit of rookie hazing. A few moments before all the Red Sox left the clubhouse, Varitek, whose locker is next to Matsuzaka’s, informed his new batterymate that it was a custom in this country for pitchers to carry the catcher’s gear to the field.

Just a little clubhouse humor. But Varitek didn’t want anything to be lost in translation.

"I made sure he knew I was joking," said Varitek. "I carried his cleats and glove to the field."

There was no joking around on the mound, though, as Matsuzaka joined a group featuring the other pitchers in Boston’s projected rotation — Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Jonathan Papelbon and Tim Wakefield — as well as countryman and fellow Sox rookie Hideki Okajima for the spring’s first bullpen session.

Anyone — the few fans braving the cold (for Florida) temperatures (barely 60 degrees with strong winds that made it seem much colder) or the press, including over 120 Japanese media — expecting Dice-K to throw 100 miles an hour or show off his mythical gyro ball was disappointed.

Instead, following the advice of new pitching coach John Farrell, the focus on yesterday’s workout for every pitcher was to throw strictly fastballs and changeups, working on building up arm strength without throwing too hard, too soon.

Matsuzaka, 26, who signed a six-year, $52-million contract with the Sox after Boston had secured his posting rights from the Seibu Lions for $51.1 million, threw easily during his roughly 10-minute session, showing the form that helped him win the Most Valuable Player honors in leading Japan to the World Baseball Classic title last spring.

His motion out of the windup includes a hesitation as he rocks back and brings his hands over his head. He’s deliberate as he pivots on the rubber, but then his right arm flashes forward with outstanding arm speed as he delivers the ball to the plate.

From the stretch, Matsuzaka, a 6-foot, 187-pounder, is compact, his motion fluid, with no hesitation, the better to keep baserunners from getting a big jump.

A lot of Matsuzaka’s pitches were high, but it’s early in camp and, besides, he has a reputation for pitching up in the strike zone.

Varitek caught Matsuzaka, as he likely will at every opportunity so as to get to know Dice-K’s pitches and how they move as well as to forge a communication bond as quickly as possible.

"It’s way too early to make any assessment of anything, but he threw the ball well. The ball came out of his hand well," said Varitek when pressed to critique Matsuzaka’s workout.

"As for his repertoire, there’s much, much more to see. But I could learn about his release point and start the communication process between us," added Varitek in one media session before heading over to the press tent for the Japanese media to go over similar ground.

Matsuzaka, meanwhile, was matter-of-fact about the workout.

"It was my first workout and I had a good level of intensity. I’m a little tired. I pitched at a level of 60-70%. For the beginning that was good. It’s a different way of approaching things but overall I think it worked out fine," said Matsuzaka through Sachiyo Sekiguchi, the Sox’ Japanese media liaison who translated for Dice-K after the workout.

Matsuzaka was referring to the Japanese spring workouts, which are legendary for their length and intensity, as Schilling noted when meeting with the Japanese media yesterday.

"The Japanese train all day long and we’re done at noon. Lazy Americans," joked Schilling, eliciting chuckles from the Japanese media.

There were a few smiles and laughs as Matsuzaka was introduced to the Sox’ rapid-fire PFP drill. While Wakefield, Beckett, Papelbon and Schilling were able to handle the hard hoppers smacked at them by Francona and Johnson, it took a while for Matsuzaka and Okajima to catch on.

After each pitcher had five warmup fungoes bounced or lined their way, the rounds thereafter were "stay-until-you-missed" individual battles. Matsuzaka was one and done in each of his first two attempts in that round, but Francona and Johnson took it easier on him the next two times, when Matsuzaka fielded five relatively easy shots before missing. The scouting report? Weak on the backhand and shaky through the five-hole.

A little levity aside, though, the Sox already are impressed with Matsuzaka.

"The kid is a phenomenal talent, an ace in the making, stuff-wise," said Schilling, who said he has seen videos of Matsuzaka.

"He’s a mature 26-year-old kid. He likes to have fun but from what I can see is he’s very focused, like all great pitchers. He has an incredible mix of pitches. He’s like (ex-Sox Cy Young winner) Pedro (Martinez), someone who has multiple strikeout pitches, guys who can go out without their best stuff and still dominate a game."

Obviously, the Sox and their fans will get to know more about Matsuzaka through his performances on the mound. He, and the others in his group, will throw similar bullpen sessions tomorrow and Thursday and will throw batting practice on Saturday. Unofficially, Matsuzaka’s first start for the Sox will be Friday, March 2, against Boston College.

But yesterday, Dice-K made it through a day of firsts in fine form, including his willingness to carry someone else’s bags.

skrasner@projo.com