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The Nationals intend to call up Kent from Triple-A Rochester to make his MLB debut this week, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.
One of the top upper-level pitching prospects in the organization, Kent will be summoned from Triple-A to fill the vacancy in the big-league rotation that was created when the Nationals designated Zack Littell for assignment last week. The 23-year-old lefty is in line for his second promotion of 2026, as he opened the campaign at Double-A Harrisburg before moving up to Triple-A on May 21. Over 13 starts with Rochester, Kent turned in a 4.38 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 67:22 K:BB across 63.2 innings. He made his most recent appearance at Triple-A last Wednesday, so he'll presumably slot into the rotation at some point during the Nationals' three-game home series versus the Cubs that begins Tuesday.
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Nationals' Jackson Kent: Velocity jump at Double-A
Rotowire
Kent has seen his velocity jump significantly this season, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.
An unheralded left-hander taken in the fourth round of the 2024 draft, Kent struggled to a 5.59 ERA in six starts last season with Double-A Harrisburg as his pitchability couldn't make up for a mediocre fastball in the low 90s. This year in a return to Double-A, the 23-year-old is popping 95 mph, and the result has been a 3.14 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 20:4 K:BB in his first 14.1 innings. Kent has a long way to go to get on the prospect radar, but he flashes a plus changeup and has elite extension along with a couple of work-in-progress breaking pitches, so the foundation is there for a big-league arsenal if his development curve continues pointing up.
