The Washington Nationals have added a second potential bullpen arm to a minor league deal within the last three days
The Washington Nationals have added another potential arm to the 2026 roster after reports broke on Monday night that the team has agreed to term with left handed reliever Zach Penrod.
The potential bullpen arm joins the organization after a stint with the Boston Red Sox, giving the new front office a connection given new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni joining the Nationals from the AL East team earlier this offseason.
Penrod, 28, joins the organization with limited experience as he looks to find his groove with the Nationals.
After playing at Corban University then transferred to Northwest Nazarene University, Penrod signed with the Texas Rangers as an undrafted free agent in August 2018 before suffering an injury and undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2019. Following the canceled 2020 season due to COVID, Penrod signed with the Boise Hawks in the Independent Pioneer League where he posted a 3-4 record with a 5.66 ERA and 85 strikeouts across over 68 innings pitched at 14 games. He then posted 85 strikeouts across 75 innings pitched in 2022 in the same league.
After signing a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox in 2023, Penrod made his MLB debut the following month where he posted a pair of strikeouts, including one against Jazz Chisholm Jr. He finished his first partial season with three strikeouts, four walks and a 2.25 ERA in seven appearances for the Red Sox.
Penrod was then placed on the 60-day injured list in 2025 after suffering an elbow sprain where he then spent time in Triple A, notching six strikeouts across just over five innings pitched. After being designated for assignment following the He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers midway through the 2025 season one exchange for cash considerations before being designated for assignment roughly one month later, then sent to the minor league after clearing waivers where he notched 23 strikeouts in over 26 innings pitched. It was not all pretty, though, with Penrod recording walks on over 20% of opposing hitters while struggling with command at times, though throws a three-pitch mix and records roughly 95 MPH on his fastball.
He now joins a Nationals bullpen that enters 2026 wide open as the front office looks for available options to bolster the eventual 40-man roster. The Nationals also agreed to terms to a minor league deal with right handed pitcher Trevor Gotts on Saturday, adding another possibility to address the weakness.