TAMPA — Kei Igawa’s family in Japan is living in a car, but at least they are alive.

Igawa, a Yankees minor-league pitcher, made contact with his family about 1 a.m. yesterday morning after not being able to reach them in the wake of the devastating tsunami that hit Japan.

Igawa worked out at the Yankees’ minor-league complex yesterday morning and was booked on an afternoon flight to Japan. Igawa’s family lives in Oarai of Ibaraki Prefecture, which was one of the hardest hit areas.

This is by far Igawa’s worst experience in a Yankees career that has not gone well. Between posting fees and salary, the Yankees invested $46 million in the left-hander, who has not pitched in the big leagues since 2008. He is in the last year of a five-year deal worth $20 million.

In two big-league seasons from 2007-08, Igawa posted a 2-4 record with a 6.66 ERA in 16 games (13 starts). In four minor league seasons, he is 33-23 in 87 games (73 starts). Since 2008 in the minors he is 27-18.

This spring was the first since he signed that Igawa did not receive an invite to major-league camp.

george.king@nypost.com