Chicago Cubs lefty Tsuyoshi Wada looked sharp in a simulated game on Tuesday as part of his rehab as he recovers from a left thigh injury.

The 34-year-old former Fukuoka Softbank Hawks ace threw 64 pitches to 19 minor leaguers at the Cubs' spring training facility in Arizona. Wada said he was much happier with his effort than he had been with a practice game he pitched on April 2.

"I was able to do everything I wanted to," said Wada, who went 4-4 with a 3.25 ERA last season and is being counted on as part of Chicago's rotation.

Wada was able to locate on both sides of the plate with a fastball. Working in on batters hands, the pitches had some late life on them, allowing Wada to induce a double play groundball and swinging strikes.

The pitcher, who was injured on March 13, allowed two runs, but said the issue is his fitness.

"What's important is being able to throw the number of pitches I was asked to throw," he said. "(The tightness I felt on March 13) is now where I don't even notice it."