Sports · Baseball · 12 hrs ago
Yakult releases former Hanshin ace pitcher Koyo Aoyagi
Yakult has told pitcher Koyo Aoyagi it will not renew his contract after a season without a first-team appearance.
The 32-year-old right-hander made 20 appearances in the farm league, finishing with six wins, six losses and a 4.42 earned-run average.
Aoyagi was once a leading starter for the Hanshin Tigers, winning the league’s top-wins award in 2021 and 2022, and three pitching titles in 2022.
After Hanshin, he signed a minor-league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, but did not reach the major leagues and left the team in July.
He joined Yakult, but a spring-camp injury disrupted his season, and he did not get called up to the first team.
His next team has not been announced, though the account notes that some Japanese clubs need starting pitchers and says his future may depend on regaining full fitness.
Yakult has told former Hanshin pitcher Koyo Aoyagi it will not offer him a contract for next season.
Aoyagi made no first-team appearances for Yakult this season, recording six wins and six losses in 20 farm-league games with a 4.42 ERA.
He previously won the most-wins title in 2021 and three pitching titles in 2022 while with Hanshin.
After leaving Hanshin through the posting system, he signed a minor-league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies but did not reach the majors.
Aoyagi returned to Japanese baseball with Yakult, but injuries and his lack of a first-team call-up preceded the decision to release him.
- Who
- Yakult and pitcher Koyo Aoyagi.
- What
- Yakult notified Aoyagi that it would not offer him a contract for next season.
- When
- This off-season; the articles were published on October 14, 2026.
- Where
- Japan; Aoyagi played for Yakult and previously for Hanshin.
- Why
- He made no first-team appearances for Yakult this season and recorded six wins, six losses and a 4.42 ERA in 20 farm-league games.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Aoyagi won the most-wins and highest winning percentage titles with Hanshin after going 13-6 with a 2.48 ERA.
Aoyagi won the most-wins, best ERA and highest winning percentage titles after going 13-4 with a 2.05 ERA.
Aoyagi chose to pursue a move to Major League Baseball through the posting system.
Aoyagi left the Philadelphia Phillies after signing a minor-league deal and not reaching the majors.
Aoyagi made no first-team appearances for Yakult and went 6-6 with a 4.42 ERA in 20 farm-league games; the club notified him it would not offer a contract for next season.
- First-team appearances for Yakult this season
- 0
- Farm-league record this season
- 20 games; 6 wins, 6 losses; 4.42 ERA
- Hanshin titles in 2021
- Most wins; highest winning percentage (.684)
- Hanshin titles in 2022
- Most wins; best ERA; highest winning percentage (.765)
- MLB team
- Philadelphia Phillies
3 sources
What people are saying
狙えるものは狙いたい。どのタイトルでも一人で取れるものは何もない。自分ができること、ベストを尽くした結果、タイトルがついてくる。できることを全力でやっていきたい
振り返ったら本当に情けないシーズンだったと思う。ヤクルトに対して何も貢献できていなかった。