Konnor

Pilkington

All five were in camp as non-roster invitees with Effross and Rainey the ones with the most big-league experience. They’ll presumably head down to Triple-A Toledo to wait for injury or ineffectiveness to create an opportunity.

Pilkington could have stayed with the Nationals after going unclaimed on waivers last week, but he’s instead joining a superior team that has much less room for him. The 28-year-old Pilkington has a 3.97 ERA in 11 starts and 37 relief appearances as a major leaguer, though all of those starts came with the Guardians in 2022. He had a 4.45 ERA in 28 1/3 innings out to the pen for the Nationals last season.

Rather than accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Rochester, the 28-year-old left-hander will explore opportunities on the open market instead. Pilkington posted a 4.45 ERA 1.28 WHIP and a 34/17 K/BB ratio across 28 1/3 innings out of the Nationals’ bullpen in 2025. He should have no problem landing on his feet elsewhere.

The move clears a spot on the Nationals’ 40-man roster for INF Tsung-Che Cheng, who was claimed off waivers from the Mets. Pilkington is a former third-round pick who had a 4.45 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, and 34/17 K/BB ratio across 28 1/3 innings in relief for the Nationals last season. Those walks have always been a problem for him, but since he still has a minor league option remaining, it’s likely another team takes a shot on him.

Pilkington, who had a 3.75 ERA in 11 starts and five relief appearances for the Guardians in 2022 and ’23, is back in the majors for the first time in two years. He had a 2.59 ERA in three starts and 33 relief appearances for Rochester, striking out 50 and walking 27 in 41 2/3 innings. Expect him to pitch in middle relief.

Pilkington fortifies Washington’s organizational relief depth heading into spring training. The 27-year-old southpaw didn’t appear in the majors last year, but has made 16 appearances (11 starts) at the highest level dating back to 2022. He compiled a lackluster 5.91 ERA, 1.76 WHIP and 79/49 K/BB ratio across 77 2/3 innings (33 appearances, 21 starts) last year in Arizona’s system at Triple-A Reno.

Pilkington and Hernández are the most notable inclusions among Arizona’s first batch of cuts from spring training. Pilkington will remain with the club as organizational pitching depth, while Hernández continues to serve as emergency catching insurance.

Pilkington predictably passed through waivers unclaimed after being designated for assignment last Friday, and will likely stick around with Arizona as extra organizational pitching depth. The 25-year-old left-hander wound up making just one relief appearance this season in the majors after racking up 15 appearances (11 starts) last year for the Guardians.

The 25-year-old left-hander was acquired from the Guardians on May 1. Since then, he has been stationed at Triple-A Reno, where he has registered a cringe-inducing 9.53 ERA, 2.19 WHIP and a 37/33 K/BB ratio over 39 2/3 innings. He could attract interest on waivers.

Pilkington will head to Triple-A Reno as extra organizational pitching depth for the Diamondbacks after being designated for assignment last week by Cleveland. The 25-year-old southpaw holds a pedestrian 3.75 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 52/33 K/BB ratio across 60 innings (16 appearances, 11 starts) over the last two seasons in the majors.