Long-forgotten Guardians pitcher generating buzz as closing option for Nationals

In 2022, Konnor Pilkington made his MLB debut for the Cleveland Guardians, where he filled in with 58 serviceable innings in a swingman role for a Cleveland team that eventually made it to the postseason. 

After throwing just two innings for the Guardians in 2023 pitching in MLB in 2024, Pilkington returned to the big leagues last season for the Washington Nationals and provided 28 1/3  innings out of the bullpen.

And now it seems like there’s a chance he could end up becoming one of the most important arms in the Nationals’ bullpen in 2026 after Washington traded closer Jose Ferrer to the Mariners earlier this offseason in exchange for prospect Harry Ford. 

On Saturday, MLB Trade Rumors’ Charlie Wright published a story highlighting the Nationals’ closer options for 2026, where Pilkington was included as a tertiary option in a group of underwhelming players. 

The other players on the list are Cole Henry, Clayton Beeter, PJ Poulin, Marquis Grissom Jr. and Brad Lord. Not exactly a group of world beaters. 

Former Guardians pitcher Konnor Pilkington could be the Nationals’ closer in 2026

Perhaps the biggest reason Pilkington was included on the list was because he’s only one of two left-handed relievers on the 40-man roster alongside Poulin. 

But as Wright wrote, it’s hard to imagine that happening given that the Nationals may want to use him earlier in games (and the fact he doesn’t exactly have closer stuff). 

Last year Pilkington posted a 4.45 ERA in those 28 1/3 innings last season while also posting an above-average strikeout rate of 27.6%. But he also walked nearly 14% of the batters he faced and had a barrel rate of nearly 16%. 

Those aren’t exactly closer numbers. He did however raise his fastball velocity almost two miles per hour more than his time with the Guardians (94.5 mph in ‘25 vs. 92.1 in ‘22), which makes sense since he was working out of the bullpen full-time. 

It’s honestly surprising the Guardians didn’t try to get more out of Pilkington in 2023 considering they missed the postseason and spent most of the year shuffling through middle relief options. 

He made one appearance for the Guardians in April of that season before being DFA’d to make room for Tanner Bibee, and was eventually traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for cash considerations. He spent the second half of 2023 and all of 2024 at Arizona’s Triple-A team before signing with the Nationals as a minor league free agent after the season. 

At the end of the day, it likely won’t matter who closes games for the Nationals since they aren’t going to be much of a factor in the National League — especially if they trade C.J. Abrams. 

Even if Pilkington doesn’t end up getting the ninth inning for the Nationals, he should still see plenty of action in the bullpen.