PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies have been trying to get into the Japanese baseball market for years.

They hope Koyo Aoyagi is the first step. The Phils on Friday night announced that Aoyagi will attend Spring Training in Clearwater, Fla., on a Minor League contract as a non-roster invitee. Aoyagi, 31, is a potential swing man for the Phillies, who open camp set in the rotation, but with one job available in the bullpen.

Aoyagi is a right-hander who throws sidearm. He has pitched nine seasons in Japan¡¯s Nippon Professional Baseball league, going 61-47 with a 3.08 ERA while throwing six complete games and three shutouts. He is a three-time All-Star (2019, '21 and '22) with the Hanshin Tigers.

¡°We like him for his uniqueness,¡± Phillies assistant general manager Jorge Velandia said. ¡°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.¡±

Aoyagi is a ground-ball pitcher with a four-pitch mix, including a 87-91 mph fastball, a sweepy slider, a split-changeup and cutter. He has struck out 647 and walked 299 in 898 1/3 innings in Nippon Professional Baseball. He helped Hanshin win the 2023 Japan Series, starting the series-clinching Game 7 and pitching 4 2/3 scoreless innings.

If Aoyagi makes the big league club in 2025, he will be the third Japanese player in Phillies history. The others are Tadahito Iguchi (2007-08) and So Taguchi (2008).

The Phillies have tried in recent years to attract Japan¡¯s top stars to Philly, including Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki, who just announced Friday that he has signed with the Dodgers. Ohtani, Yamamoto and Sasaki expressed little to no interest in the Phillies, preferring to play on the West Coast.

Aoyagi had no qualms with Philly.

¡°It¡¯s good for all parties,¡± Velandia said. ¡°It¡¯s good for what we¡¯ve been growing in Japan. Let¡¯s see if something comes out of this. It¡¯s cool. It¡¯s another weapon that we don¡¯t have in a sidearmer. Roster spots are hard to get. We¡¯re glad that he chose the Phillies. We showed him that this is a good place.¡±