Konnor Pilkington - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Tigers quietly add former division rival top prospect in classic Scott Harris move Konnor Pilkington might not be the kind of name that dominates the MLB news cycle in February, but his arrival at Tigers camp feels very on-...

FEBRUARY 11 • MOTORCITYBENGALS.COM

Earns NRI from Tigers The Tigers signed Pilkington to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Impact Pilkington elected free agency last week after being booted off the Nationals' 40-man roster and has quickly latched on with a new organization. The southpaw put up a 4.45 ERA and 34:17 K:BB over 28.1 innings with Washington last season and is likely ticketed for the Triple-A Toledo bullpen to begin the 2026 season.

FEBRUARY 9 • ROTOWIRE

Becomes free agent Pilkington elected to become a free agent Thursday.

Impact Pilkington was booted off the Nationals' 40-man roster last week and has decided to test out free agency rather than accept an outright assignment. The southpaw collected a 4.45 ERA and 34:17 K:BB over 28.1 innings with Washington last season.

FEBRUARY 5 • ROTOWIRE

Outrighted to Triple-A The Nationals outrighted Pilkington to Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday.

Impact Pilkington has the ability to elect free agency rather than accepting the outright assignment, though it's unclear what his plans are. The lefty posted a 4.45 ERA and 34:17 K:BB over 28.1 innings with the Nationals last season.

FEBRUARY 5 • ROTOWIRE

Nationals DFA former Guardians pitcher who found new life in Washington The Washington Nationals designted former Guardians pitcher Konnor Pilkington for assignment.

JANUARY 29 • AWAYBACKGONE.COM

Loses 40-man roster spot The Nationals designated Pilkington for assignment Wednesday.

Impact The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for waiver claim Tsung-Che Cheng. Pilkington appeared in 34 games for the Nationals last season, posting a 4.45 ERA and 34:17 K:BB over 28.1 innings. The 28-year-old lefty stands a good chance of passing through waivers unclaimed, but if that happens he would have the ability to elect free agency.

JANUARY 28 • ROTOWIRE

Long-forgotten Guardians pitcher generating buzz as closing option for Nationals While Konnor Pilkington didn't do much for the Guardians during his time with the club, he's become a bullpen mainstay with the Nationals.

JANUARY 5 • AWAYBACKGONE.COM

Swanson hits 3-run HR and Cubs go deep 4 times in an 11-5 win over Nationals

Dansby Swanson hit a three-run homer and the Chicago Cubs went deep four times in an 11-5 victory over the Washington Nationals

SEPTEMBER 5, 2025 • Associated Press

Kyle Schwarber's 43rd homer sends Phillies to 6-2 win over Nats. Closer Duran injured in 9th

Kyle Schwarber hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the seventh inning and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Washington Nationals 6-2 to snap a three-game skid

AUGUST 16, 2025 • Associated Press

Nick Lodolo pitches his 1st complete game as Reds beat Nationals 5-0

Nick Lodolo pitched his first complete game with eight strikeouts, Nick Fraley and Santiago Espinal each had two hits and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Washington Nationals 5-0

JULY 23, 2025 • Associated Press

Konnor Pilkington wins in return to majors as Nats top Reds Josh Bell homered for the second straight game, Konnor Pilkington earned his first major league win since 2022 and the Washington Nationals...

JULY 23, 2025 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Nationals' explosive 5th inning secures series win over Reds

Josh Bell hit his 13th home run, Jacob Young and CJ Abrams contributed RBI doubles during the decisive fifth inning, and the Washington Nationals defeated the Cincinnati Reds 6-1

JULY 23, 2025 • Associated Press

Contract selected The Nationals selected Pilkington's contract from Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday.

Impact Pilkington will provide length in the bullpen behind Tuesday's starter, Brad Lord, who is making his first start since early May after 26 relief appearances. The lefty has posted a 2.59 ERA and 50:27 K:BB over 41.2 frames this season with Rochester.

JULY 22, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

NRI with Washington The Nationals signed Pilkington on Thursday to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to spring training, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Pilkington spent the 2024 season at Triple-A Reno in the Diamondbacks organization, holding a 5.91 ERA and 79:49 K:BB over 77.2 frames. The left-hander saw significant action at the major-league level with the Guardians in 2022, posting a 3.88 ERA across 58 innings. He'll likely begin the 2025 season in the rotation at Triple-A Rochester.

DECEMBER 12, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Outrighted to Triple-A Pilkington was outrighted to Triple-A Reno on Thursday, per the MLB transaction log.

Impact Pilkington was designated for assignment Friday and will head back to the minors. He's thrown only two innings in the majors this season and has a 9.53 ERA with a 2.22 WHIP across 39.2 frames with Reno for the campaign.

JULY 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Designated for assignment Pilkington was designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks on Friday.

Impact This move clears out a 40-man roster spot for outfielder Dominic Canzone, who is joining the Diamondbacks ahead of Friday's game versus the Pirates. Pilkington, 25, has made only appearance at the MLB level in 2023, and that was with the Guardians in April.

JULY 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Guardians trade LHP Konnor Pilkington to Diamondbacks

The Cleveland Guardians have traded left-hander Konnor Pilkington to the Arizona Diamondbacks for $100,000

MAY 1, 2023 • Associated Press

Guardians trade LHP Konnor Pilkington to Arizona for cash considerations Pilkington appeared in 16 games over two seasons for Cleveland.

MAY 1, 2023 • CLEVELAND.COM

D-backs acquire LHP Konnor Pilkington from Guardians The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired left-hander Konnor Pilkington from the Cleveland Guardians on Monday for cash considerations.

MAY 1, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Traded to Arizona Pilkington was acquired by the Diamondbacks from the Guardians on Monday in exchange for cash considerations.

Impact Pilkington had been removed from Cleveland's 40-man roster late last week and has now found a new home. The left-hander has a limited ceiling but is a capable depth arm for Arizona. He's posted a 3.75 ERA over 16 appearances -- 11 starts -- at the big-league level and figures to slide into Triple-A Reno's rotation.

MAY 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dropped from 40-man roster The Guardians designated Pilkington for assignment Wednesday, Joe Noga of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Impact Pilkington will move off the 40-man roster to open up a spot for right-hander Tanner Bibee, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Columbus ahead of his MLB debut Wednesday versus the Rockies. Though the 25-year-old southpaw was one of the Guardians' preferred spot starters 2022 and struck out two over two scoreless innings of relief in Tuesday's 5-1 loss, Pilkington has since fallen behind all of Peyton Battenfield, Logan Allen, Bibee, Hunter Gaddis and Xzavion Curry on the organizational rotation depth chart. He'll now be exposed to waivers and could draw interest from an organization with lesser pitching depth than the Guardians.

APRIL 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Guardians option LHP Tim Herrin to Triple-A, recall Konnor Pilkington Cleveland is weighing several options for a starting pitcher in Wednesday's series vs. Colorado.

APRIL 25, 2023 • CLEVELAND.COM

Recalled from minors Pilkington was recalled from Triple-A Columbus by the Guardians on Tuesday, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Impact Pilkington pitched three innings for Columbus on Saturday but could be available on short rest out of the Guardians' bullpen Tuesday. The left-hander was up with Cleveland briefly last week but didn't make an appearance.

APRIL 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Headed back to minors The Guardians optioned Pilkington to Triple-A Columbus following Tuesday's doubleheader versus the Tigers.

Impact Cleveland summoned Pilkington from Triple-A to serve as its 27th man for the twin bill, but he wasn't needed out of the bullpen. The 25-year-old lefty should step back into the Columbus rotation, unless the Guardians elect to call him back up when the team next needs a fifth starter Monday versus the Rockies in Cleveland. The Guardians have an opening in the rotation after the struggling Hunter Gaddis was optioned to Triple-A on Wednesday.

APRIL 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Added as 27th man Pilkington was recalled from Triple-A Columbus by the Guardians on Tuesday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Impact Pilkington will serve as the 27th man during a doubleheader versus the Tigers. The left-hander has been starting at Columbus and will likely be in line to eat up some innings in relief Tuesday.

APRIL 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

KONNOR PILKINGTON NEWS

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GAME LOG

INJURIES

Swanson hits 3-run HR and Cubs go deep 4 times in an 11-5 win over Nationals

Kyle Schwarber's 43rd homer sends Phillies to 6-2 win over Nats. Closer Duran injured in 9th

Nick Lodolo pitches his 1st complete game as Reds beat Nationals 5-0

Nationals' explosive 5th inning secures series win over Reds

Guardians trade LHP Konnor Pilkington to Diamondbacks