Sauryn

Lao

The 26-year-old hurler found an opportunity to play overseas, so the Nationals granted him release. Lao will ink a one-year pact with the Nippon Ham Fighters of Japan’s Nippon Proessional Baseball.

Lao will have a chance to make his first appearance with Washington after being claimed off waivers from the Mariners at the start of September. The 26-year-old will be auditioning for a potential role in the Nationals’ bullpen in 2026.

Lao, 26, was designated for assignment Wednesday after the Mariners recalled Emerson Hancock. The right-hander will be a depth piece in the minors, and look to show enough to potentially contend for a bullpen spot in 2026.

Lao, who was already in Triple-A, gets bumped from the 40-man to make room for Harry Ford and Luke Jackson. Sao made two appearances for the Mariners earlier this season, giving up three earned runs in 3 1/3 innings.

Lao heads back to Tacoma after the Mariners recalled Emerson Hancock from Tacoma in the corresponding move. Lao isn’t likely to see time with Seattle again in 2025, even with rosters expanding.

Lao gives the Mariners a fresh bullpen arm and will replace Jackson Kowar after Kowar pitched in back-to-back games for Seattle. It’ll be Lao’s first chance to see action since May 6, and it likely won’t be in anything resembling a high-leverage situation.

The 25-year-old right-hander had been designated for assignment earlier in the week. He passed through waivers unclaimed and will continue to function as extra bullpen depth for the Mariners.

Lao made one appearance for the Mariners last week before being demoted, and now they need 40-man roster room for Rhylan Thomas. Lao will hit the waiver wire, and if he goes unclaimed the 25-year-old will repot back to Tacoma for organizational depth.

Lao pitched well with three strikeouts over 1 1/3 innings in his MLB debut, the Mariners need a fresh arm after he threw 37 pitches Tuesday. Lao will likely be back again with Seattle at some point.

It’s Lao’s first big-league opportunity after nearly a decade in the minors. The 25-year-old righty has allowed just two runs with seven strikeouts and only one walk over nine innings (three appearances) this season for Triple-A Tacoma. He’ll presumably operate in middle relief.