Infielder Tsung-Che Cheng joins the Nationals' 40-man roster after a rapid waiver carousel. Pitcher Konnor Pilkington is designated for assignment.
The Nationals have added middle-infielder Tsung-Che Cheng to their 40-man roster. Cheng debuted with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2025, going hitless in seven at-bats. Cheng signed with Pittsburgh in 2019 as an international free agent from Taiwan, and was designated for assignment in December.
The Tampa Bay Rays claimed him on Jan. 7 before DFA’ing him on Jan. 12. The New York Mets picked him up on Jan. 16 before DFA’ing him on Jan. 21.
Cheng spent most of his 2025 season with the Pirates’ Triple-A affiliate. He slashed .209/.307/.271 across 107 games. He holds an impressive minor league resume, especially early in his career in the Pirates’ farm system. In 2022, Cheng appeared in 104 games for the Bradenton Marauders, Single-A affiliate of the Pirates, and led the Florida State League in triples and runs scored. He went 33 for 39 in stolen base attempts, leading all minor leaguers within the Pirates organization.
Cheng’s speed helped him climb the ladder of the Pirates organization in 2023, landing him with Pirates’ Double-A affiliate Altoona Curve midway through the season. Cheng collected a career high ten triples during his 2023 minor season, slashing .218/.320/.341 in 126 appearances with Altoona.
In November 2023, the Pirates added Cheng to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. Heading into the 2024 season, Cheng was ranked the seventeenth-best prospect in the Pirates organization by MLB Pipeline.
Cheng spent most of the 2024 season with the Altoona Curve before his promotion to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians in late September. An injury to Pirates infielder Jared Triolo led to Cheng’s first and only major league call-up. On April 9, 2025, Cheng made his debut at shortstop during a 13-inning battle against the Saint Louis Cardinals. He appeared in two more games for Pittsburgh in the following days before returning to Indianapolis.
In correspondence to the move, the Nationals have DFA’ed LHP Konnor Pilkington. Pilkington posted a 4.45 ERA in 2025 with the Nationals over 28.1 innings pitched. Debuting with Washington in July of 2025, Pilkington was initially drafted in the third round of the 2018 MLB draft by the Chicago White Sox. The pitcher has also spent time within the Cleveland Guardians and Arizona Diamondbacks organizations.
Despite an average ERA during his major league tenure, command appeared to be a challenge for the southpaw. Pilkington allowed 17 walks during his 28.1 innings pitched, compared to 34 strikeouts.