A right hander who made his big-league debut with the Cleveland Guardians is looking for a new home again. Zak Kent spent part of 2025 in Cleveland’s bullpen before bouncing to two other organizations this past season. He finished the year with the Washington Nationals, but his stay in D.C. did not last long. Washington designated him for assignment last week after claiming another pitcher, and now the team is moving on for good. The Nationals made it official.
“The Nationals have requested Unconditional Release Waivers on Zak Kent,” Nationals Communications wrote.
The Nationals have requested Unconditional Release Waivers on Zak Kent.
— Nationals Communications (@NationalsComms) November 4, 2026
The move means any team can claim Kent over the next few days. If nobody does, he will become a free agent and can sign anywhere.
Guardians fans may remember his debut. Kent made his first big-league appearance on April 23, 2025, against the New York Yankees and worked three innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out four. He went on to pitch in 12 games for Cleveland that year, going 1-0 with a 4.58 ERA over 17 2/3 innings. He struck out 16 batters and allowed just one home run, and his 3.59 FIP suggested he pitched better than his ERA showed.
The 2026 season was more of a struggle. Kent appeared in two games for the Minnesota Twins before landing in Washington, where he made nine appearances. He posted a 5.68 ERA with the Nationals across 12 2/3 innings, though he struck out 10 and walked only three. Between the two stops, he finished with a 5.51 ERA in 11 games. As with his time in Cleveland, his 3.26 FIP in Washington pointed to some bad luck.
Kent’s path to the majors was not a typical one. The Texas Rangers drafted him in the ninth round in 2019 out of Virginia Military Institute, and he spent several years working his way up through the minors before finally reaching the big leagues at 27. Over two seasons, he owns a 5.03 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 34 innings.
There are reasons a team might take a chance on him. Kent is still only 28, his rookie status remains intact and he is not eligible for arbitration until 2029, so he would come cheap. He has also shown the ability to cover multiple innings in relief.
Whether he lands on another 40-man roster or signs a minor league deal, Kent will be looking to prove he belongs in a big league bullpen. Guardians fans will remember him as one of the many arms who got their first shot in Cleveland.
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