Nationals agree to terms with right-handed pitcher Kyle Finnegan

By Doug Miller

Nationals

December 08, 2019, 7:05am

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The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a Major League contract with right-handed pitcher Kyle Finnegan on Sunday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Finnegan, 28, joins the Nationals after seven seasons in the Oakland Athletics' Minor League system. In 2019, he went 3-2 with 14 saves and a 2.31 ERA (13 ER/50.2 IP) in 42 relief appearances between Triple-A Las Vegas and Double-A Midland. Finnegan's 14 saves led Oakland's Minor League system. He struck out 72 batters, walked 19 batters and surrendered just three home runs in 2019. Opposing batters hit just .210 (39-for-186) against him.

Finnegan posted career marks in strikeouts per 9.0 innings (12.8), strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.79), WHIP (1.14) and hits per 9.0 innings (6.9) in 2019.

Since the start of the 2018 season, Finnegan is 28-for-30 in save opportunities while posting a 3.49 ERA and 11.3 strikeouts per 9.0 innings (120 SO in 95.1 IP). In 2018, he was 14-for-14 in save chances while going 1-3 with a 4.84 ERA in 36 games between Triple-A Nashville, Double-A Midland and Rookie-level Arizona. He struck out 48 batters and surrendered just two home runs.

A sixth-round pick in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of Texas State University, Finnegan is 28-35 with 47 saves and a 4.03 ERA in 232 games (63 starts) across his first seven professional seasons. He began his career as a starter, but converted to the relief role in 2016.

Washington now has 30 players on its 40-man roster.