The Washington Nationals selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Jackson Kent and designated right-handed pitcher Miles Mikolas for assignment on Wednesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni made the announcement.
Kent, 23, will make his Major League debut on Wednesday as the starting pitcher against the Chicago Cubs. Kent joins the Nationals after going 9-4 with a 3.72 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 20 starts (94.1 IP) between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester in 2026. In his most recent start on Aug. 5 at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Kent tossed 5.2 innings of three-hit, one-run ball with five strikeouts to earn his ninth win of the season.
Kent leads Washington’s Minor League system in opponents’ average (.216) and opponents’ on-base percentage (.277), while his 1.12 WHIP ranks second, his 3.72 ERA is good for third and the 105 strikeouts are tied for fourth. The opponents’ on-base percentage ranks ninth in all of Minor League Baseball, while the opponent’s average and WHIP rank 11th.
By making the start on Wednesday, Kent will become the 31st starting pitcher originally signed or drafted and developed by the Nationals to start a game for the team (since 2005).
Washington’s fourth-round pick in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Arizona, Kent went 7-10 with a 4.61 ERA and 132 strikeouts in 24 starts (123.0 IP) in his first professional season in 2025. He ranked in Washington’s Minor League system in wins (T2nd, 7), strikeouts (3rd, 132), WHIP (3rd, 1.22), opponents average (4th, .243) and innings (T4th , 123.0).