The Philadelphia Phillies turned to another Japanese pitcher after being turned down by Roki Sasaki.
The Phillies made a pitch to Sasaki and his representatives for a chance to meet with the 23-year-old phenom nicknamed “The Monster of the Reiwa Era.” However, Sasaki never granted the franchise an interview request.
He did meet with several teams, including Phillies rival New York Mets, but Sasaki ended up going to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
With the Phillies still looking to add depth to their pitching staff, the team looked overseas and is bringing in a former All-Star pitcher from Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Philadelphia Phillies bringing in Japanese pitcher as spring training non-roster invitee
According to multiple reports, the Phillies have signed Koyo Aoyagi, a three-time All-Star in NPB, to a minor-league contract and are bringing him to spring training as a non-roster invitee.
Aoyagi has a funky delivery, throwing sidearm, so if he does make the team, it would most likely be out of the bullpen. MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki reports that Aoyagi is a “ground-ball pitcher with a four-pitch mix, including an 87-91 mph fastball, a sweepy slider, a split-changeup, and cutter.”
Koyo Aoyagi’s stats with the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB):
— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) January 18, 2025
154 G | 898.1 IP | 810 H | 307 ER | 299 BB | 647 K | 3.08 ERA | 1.235 WHIPpic.twitter.com/a7ZWlojFLG
In nine seasons with the Hanshin Tigers, Aoyagi appeared in 154 games (12 starts), compiling a 61-47 record with a 3.08 ERA, 1.235 WHIP, and 647 strikeouts in 898⅓ innings while walking 299. He helped lead the Tigers to the Japan Series championship in 2023, where he started Game 7, pitching 4⅔ scoreless innings.
“We like him for his uniqueness,” Phillies assistant general manager Jorge Velandia told MLB.com. “You don’t see many guys from the sidearm angle. He’s been a warrior in Japan. He’s been a starter and reliever. So many different things. Just come and show us what you’ve got. That’s his MO, too. He’s a warrior. He’s a guy who wants an opportunity to come here and pitch in the big leagues.”
If Aoyagi makes the team, he will be the first Japanese player on the Phillies since the 2008 season and third overall. The Phillies have tried to make inroads in Japan with top-tier free agents like Sasaki, Shohei Ohtani, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto but have been rebuffed each time.
The Phillies have one bullpen slot left to fill, so Aoyagi will have some competition to overcome if he wants to be with the team on Opening Day.
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