Konnor Chase Pilkington Bio
Konnor Chase Pilkington (born September 12, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball. He has previously played in MLB for the Cleveland Guardians and appeared extensively in affiliated minor league baseball after being selected in the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.
Early Life and Background
Konnor Pilkington was born in Hurley, Mississippi, and attended East Central High School in Hurley. As a high school pitcher he compiled a 25–7 win–loss record with a 1.70 earned run average, totaled 307 strikeouts, and held opponents to a .144 batting average, establishing himself as one of the state’s top prospects before graduating.
At age 16 Pilkington committed to Mississippi State University, where he continued his development as a starting pitcher. His performance in high school and early college attracted attention from professional scouts and set the foundation for his selection in the 2018 draft.
Path to Baseball
Pilkington made an immediate impact at Mississippi State. As a freshman in 2016 he went 3–1 with a 2.08 ERA and 42 strikeouts while making 14 appearances with 11 starts. That summer he pitched for the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League, posting a 2–1 record and finishing third in the league with a 1.37 ERA, earning recognition on the Cape Cod Baseball League 2016 Year-End All-League Team.
In 2017 Pilkington paced Mississippi State with 17 starts, going 8–5 with a 3.08 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 108 innings. He was invited to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team that summer and produced a 2.65 ERA in appearances against international competition. Entering his junior year Pilkington received multiple preseason All-American honors and served as Mississippi State’s Friday night starter in 2018.
Konnor Pilkington Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
The Chicago White Sox selected Konnor Pilkington in the third round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft, and he signed for a reported $650,000. He began his professional career with the Arizona League White Sox before moving to the Great Falls Voyagers, working through rookie-level assignments as he adjusted to professional hitters.
In 2019 Pilkington started with the Kannapolis Intimidators in Class A and earned a promotion to the Winston-Salem Dash in Class A-Advanced. Across assignments during his early professional seasons he saw a mix of starting opportunities and innings that contributed to his development within the White Sox organization.
Cleveland Guardians Breakthrough (2021–2023)
On July 29, 2021, the Chicago White Sox traded Pilkington to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for César Hernández. Cleveland assigned him to the Akron RubberDucks of Double-A, where he produced a 3–2 record with a 2.33 ERA and recorded 49 strikeouts in 38 2/3 innings across eight games with seven starts.
The Guardians added Pilkington to their 40-man roster on November 19, 2021, and he made Cleveland’s Opening Day roster in 2022. After a brief option to Triple-A he was recalled and made his major league debut in April 2022. During the 2022 season Pilkington appeared in 15 games, making 11 starts, and posted a 1–2 record with a 3.88 ERA while striking out 50 batters in 58.0 innings.
Pilkington began 2023 in Triple-A Columbus but struggled early, and he made a single two-inning relief appearance for Cleveland before being designated for assignment in April 2023. That sequence marked the end of his primary stint with the Guardians as he moved on via roster transactions later in the year.
Arizona Diamondbacks Tenure (2023–2024)
On May 1, 2023, the Guardians traded Pilkington to the Arizona Diamondbacks for cash considerations. In Triple-A with the Reno Aces he worked primarily as a swingman, making starts and relief appearances. During a stretch of 11 starts he posted a 9.53 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings and was designated for assignment by Arizona in July before clearing waivers and remaining in the organization on an outright assignment.
Pilkington spent the 2024 season with Triple-A Reno, making 33 appearances with 21 starts and compiling a 3–5 record and a 5.91 ERA while striking out 79 batters in 77 2/3 innings. Following the 2024 campaign he elected free agency and explored opportunities to re-establish himself as a depth option for major league organizations.
Washington Nationals Era (2024–Present)
On December 3, 2024, Konnor Pilkington signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals. He opened the 2025 season with the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings and produced a strong run out of the bullpen and as a multi-inning option, appearing in 36 games and posting a 4–3 record with a 2.59 ERA, 50 strikeouts and two saves across 41 2/3 innings.
The Nationals selected Pilkington’s contract and added him to the active roster on July 22, 2025. In 32 appearances for Washington that season he compiled a 2–0 record with a 4.45 ERA and 34 strikeouts across 28 1/3 innings, serving as a versatile arm in the major league bullpen.
Driving Style and Strengths
Pilkington has functioned both as a starter and reliever at different stages of his career, demonstrating adaptability as a multi-inning option. His track record includes strong strikeout totals at the collegiate and minor league levels and the ability to work multiple innings when called upon, traits that have supported his role as a depth arm on major league staffs.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Pilkington’s career include his third-round selection in the 2018 MLB draft, his trade to Cleveland in 2021, addition to the Guardians’ 40-man roster, his major league debut in 2022, and his elevation to the Washington Nationals’ active roster in July 2025. Through the 2025 season his MLB totals reflect accumulated experience at the big league level.
Konnor Pilkington Career Wins
Across his major league service through the 2025 season Pilkington recorded a 3–2 win–loss record with a 3.97 earned run average and 86 strikeouts, combining results from appearances with Cleveland and Washington and reflecting a mixture of starting and relief work at the highest level.
Major League Highlights
In MLB action through the 2025 season Pilkington registered three wins and two losses, totaling 86 strikeouts with a 3.97 ERA. His 2022 campaign with Cleveland produced 50 strikeouts in 58.0 innings while making 11 starts, and his 2025 role with Washington saw him contribute as a reliable bullpen option across 32 appearances.
Other Wins & Performances
Pilkington’s resume features notable amateur and minor league achievements, including a dominant high school career in Mississippi, a strong freshman season at Mississippi State, a standout summer with the Brewster Whitecaps in the Cape Cod Baseball League where he posted a 1.37 ERA and earned All-League recognition, and productive stretches at Double-A Akron that facilitated his addition to Cleveland’s major league roster.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a rebound year for Pilkington. After signing with the Washington Nationals organization in December 2024 he delivered consistent innings for Triple-A Rochester, posting a 2.59 ERA across 36 appearances that earned him a major league recall in July. His performance in Rochester demonstrated improved control and run prevention that translated into a midseason promotion.
With Washington Pilkington worked in a multi-inning relief role and lefty-versatile capacity, appearing 32 times and finishing the season with a 2–0 record and a 4.45 ERA. His 34 major league strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings underscored his ability to miss bats and provide innings for a major league bullpen across the summer months. The 2025 season added major league service time and a platform for continued opportunities in affiliated baseball.