The Phillies made an unexpected but intriguing move on Friday, adding right-handed pitcher Koyo Aoyagi to their spring training roster as a non-roster invitee.
Aoyagi, 31, spent nine seasons in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, where he compiled a 3.08 ERA over 898⅓ innings. Notably, the Phillies haven’t had a Japanese player on their roster since 2008, but with president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski at the helm, the team’s presence in Japan is gaining momentum, despite losing out on Yoshinobu Yamamoto last winter, and Roki Sasaki—who, predictably, announced his deal with the Dodgers last week.
The sidearm-throwing Aoyagi is a three-time NPB All-Star and helped Japan secure the gold medal at the 2020 Olympics. Though his 2024 campaign was somewhat underwhelming (3.69 ERA in 12 games), he brings a unique skill set that could add depth to the Phillies' pitching staff. His delivery alone has the potential to keep hitters off balance, which makes him an interesting option for a bullpen that may need a few surprises.
This brings the Phillies’ non-roster invitee total to 24—though Aoyagi’s addition is arguably one of the more intriguing moves. After all, with a starting rotation featuring Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sanchez, Ranger Suarez, and Jesus Luzardo, there’s no obvious opening. The bullpen, too, is pretty much set, with locks like Jordan Romano, Matt Strahm, Jose Alvarado, Orion Kerkering, Tanner Banks, and Joe Ross. So where does Aoyagi fit?
That’s the million-dollar question. Aoyagi’s job in Clearwater will be to battle for what is likely the last spot on the pitching staff. If he doesn’t make the cut, he could be a depth piece, or perhaps even a trade chip down the line. But what makes this move interesting is that it signals the Phillies’ seriousness about breaking into the Japanese market, where they’ve been dipping their toes for years but haven’t yet signed a player directly from Japan. With Aoyagi, they’re hoping this signing generates a larger imprint for the organization in Japan.
In a quiet move that flew under the radar, the Phillies also acquired outfielder Dylan Campbell from the Dodgers on Friday, sending over international bonus pool space in return. The 22-year-old right-handed hitter spent 2024 at High-A, where he posted a modest .251/.331/.372 line, but his 42 stolen bases suggest there’s some potential for disruption at the top of the lineup. Campbell, a fourth-round pick in 2023, is another piece to keep an eye on.