TAMPA — Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka was an outspoken critic of the baseballs many thought had been juiced last year.

He hopes what he’s seen this spring stays this way.

Tanaka said the spring training baseballs have been easier to grip — softer, and with higher seams — than last year’s version of the ball that virtually all pitchers hated.

“The one we’re using right now is pretty similar to what we used in 2017,” Tanaka said via his Japanese interpreter at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Wednesday. “But I’ll remark here that, it’s just how I feel.”

Tanaka had just finished his first outing of the spring, a two-inning appearance against the Nationals — a game that ended at 8-2 Yankees after five innings due to rain. He gave up a two-run home run to Raudy Read, another hit and struck out two.

While Tanaka praised the ball, there was a catch.

“But when you look back at last year,” he said, “it feels like it was good in spring training and then it changed once the season started. So that’s my take on it.”

Tanaka said he didn’t know what to expect from the baseball when spring training ends.

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MLB said it didn’t juice the baseballs last year, though it owns Rawlings, which manufactures the balls.

Astros ace Justin Verlander, Yankees lefty J.A. Happ and other stars spoke out against the ball, which many believe led to an explosion of offense. In December, MLB released a report saying that the balls weren’t juice, but that hitters trying to use steeper launch angles were to blame.

Told that Tanaka said he felt the ball was better than last year’s version, Yankees manager Aaron Boone offered a one-word answer: “Good.”

Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.