The Phillies made some success in recruiting Japanese players on Friday, adding sidearmer Koyo Aoyagi.
The Philadelphia Phillies have no history of signing players from Japan. They are one of many teams that missed out on obtaining the next national wonder, Roki Sasaki, in favor of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.
The Phillies made some progress in signing Japanese players on Friday. They signed pitcher Koyo Aoyagi to a minor league contract (subscription required) and invited him to spring training, according to Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The pitcher is one of the latest Japanese athletes looking to build a name for himself in Major League Baseball.
Over the course of nine seasons with the Hanshin Tigers in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), Aoyagi compiled a 61-47 record and a 3.08 ERA. The 31-year-old sidearm pitcher was selected to the All-Star team three times, in 2019, 2021, and 2022.
In an article by MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, Phillies assistant general manager Jorge Velandia shared insights into why the team decided to sign Aoyagi.
“We appreciate [Aoyagi] for his distinct style,” Velandia said, according to Zolecki. “There aren’t many pitchers with his sidearm delivery. He’s been a fighter in Japan, excelling both as a starter and a reliever. He brings a lot of versatility. We’re excited to see what he can do here. He’s a guy who’s eager for the chance to pitch in the big leagues.”
The Phillies plan to utilize Aoyagi’s experience as both a starter and reliever. Although the team’s starting rotation is currently full, there is an opening in the bullpen, Zolecki reports.
Aoyagi opted not to join his fellow Japanese players Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Sasaki on the West Coast with the Dodgers. If he makes the roster, he will become just the third Japanese player to play for the Phillies, following Tadahito Iguchi (2007-08) and So Taguchi (2008).
“It’s beneficial for everyone involved,” Velandia said about Aoyagi’s addition. “It’s a great development for our efforts in Japan. We’re excited to see where this leads. It’s unique to have a sidearm pitcher like him, and roster spots are tough to come by, so we’re happy he chose the Phillies. We’ve shown him that this is a good place to be.”
Zolecki reports that Aoyagi throws four pitches: a fastball (87-91 mph), a cutter, a sweeping slider, and a split-changeup.
With spots available in the bullpen due to Carlos Estévez and Jeff Hoffman becoming free agents, it remains to be seen if Aoyagi can secure a roster spot with a strong spring training performance. Regardless, his experience as both a starter and reliever adds an intriguing option to the Phillies’ pitching staff.