| Kyle Finnegan | |
|---|---|
_(51102652085)_(cropped).png) Finnegan with theWashington Nationals in 2021 | |
| Washington Nationals – No. 67 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1991-09-04)September 4, 1991 (age 33) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 25, 2020, for the Washington Nationals | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 22–24 |
| Earned run average | 3.48 |
| Strikeouts | 285 |
| Saves | 88 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Kyle Edward Finnegan (born September 4, 1991) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher for theWashington Nationals ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2020.
Finnegan attendedKingwood High School inKingwood, Texas. He earned all-district first team honors while helping his team to a 27–7 mark as a senior and a district championship. Finnegan also played in the HABCA All-Star Game. Finnegan enrolled atTexas State University. As a freshman, he had a 1–0win–loss record, a 6.97earned run average (ERA), struck out four batters in10+1⁄3 innings of work. He earned the victory in his lone start of the season againstPrairie View A&M and pitched three scoreless innings of relief againstMcNeese State.[1]
In his sophomore year, Finnegan appeared in 15 games, starting 14. He threw a career-high 8 innings twice, againstUT Arlington andTexas A&M-Corpus Christi. He finished the year with a 3.28 ERA in93+1⁄3 innings, limited opponents to just a .242 average, struck out 75 batters while walking just 26. He began the season 4–0, with wins in each of his first four starts. Finnegan fanned a season-high 12 opponents in 7 innings without allowing a run againstNotre Dame. He allowed just two earned runs in 27 innings over his first four starts to begin the year. He threw a scoreless inning in his only relief appearance of the year, as part of an 8–4 win againstTCU and struck out eight without walking any in7+1⁄3 innings againstSam Houston State.[1] Following his sophomore season at Texas State, Finnegan played in theCape Cod Baseball League for theCotuit Kettleers, helping them to a regular season championship.[2]
TheOakland Athletics selected Finnegan in the sixth round (191st overall) of the2013 MLB draft.[3] Pitching for theVermont Lake Monsters of theLow–ANew York–Penn League, he had a 3–3 record and a 2.70 earned run average in 2013. Also in the same year, pitching for theSingle–ABeloit Snappers of theMidwest League, he had a 1–1 record and a 9.82 ERA.[3] In 2014, pitching for Beloit, he had 7–9 record and a 3.69 earned run average and 55 strikeouts. Finnegan was later named the starting pitcher for the west team in the 2014 Midwest League All-Star Game, where he earned the win tossing one shutout inning. Receiving a promotion to theMidland RockHounds of theDouble-ATexas League, he had a 0–1 record with an 11.81 earned run average.[3] He spent the 2015 season with theStockton Ports, going 9–9 with a 5. 44 ERA over 127 innings.
Finnegan split the 2016 season between Stockton and Midland, going a combined 2–3 with a 2.54 ERA over63+2⁄3 innings. He split the 2017 season between Midland and theNashville Sounds, going a combined 2–4 with a 3.88 ERA over 59 innings. Finnegan split the 2018 season between the rookie–levelArizona League Athletics, Midland, and Nashville, going 1–3 with a 4.84 ERA over44+2⁄3 innings. He split the 2019 season between Midland and theLas Vegas Aviators, going a combined 3–2 with a 2.31 ERA over50+2⁄3 innings,[4][5][6] and was named a 2019 Texas League All-Star.[7] Finnegan elected free agency following the season on November 4, 2019.[8]
On December 8, 2019, Finnegan signed a major league contract with theWashington Nationals.[9] He made his major league debut on July 25, 2020, against theNew York Yankees, allowing one hit and no runs in one inning of relief. Finnegan finished his rookie year with an ERA of 2.92 and 27 strikeouts in 25 appearances for the big league club.
On May 5, 2021, in a game against theAtlanta Braves, Finnegan pitched the fifthimmaculate inning in Nationals history, striking outAustin Riley,Dansby Swanson, andWilliam Contreras on nine pitches.[10] After the Nationals tradedDaniel Hudson andBrad Hand at the 2021trade deadline, the Nationals named Finnegan theircloser.[11] He finished the season with a 3.55 ERA, 68 strikeouts and 34 walks in 66 innings.
On January 13, 2023, Finnegan agreed to a one-year, $2.3 million contract with the Nationals, avoiding salary arbitration.[12] He finished the 2023 season with a 3.76 ERA and 28saves.[13] During a game between theColorado Rockies on June 22, 2024, he became the first pitcher in MLB history to lose a regular-season game due to apitch clock violation.[14]
On July 15, 2024, Finnegan was added to theNational LeagueAll-Star team as a replacement to the injuredRyan Helsley. He was one of two All-Stars from the Nationals this year, the other beingCJ Abrams. Across 65 games for Washington in 2024, Finnegan posted a 3.68 ERA with 60 strikeouts and a career-high 38 saves.[15] However, he pitched much worse in the second half of the season, with an ERA of 5.79, compared to 2.45 in the first half of 2024.[16] On November 22, Finnegan was non-tendered by the Nationals and became a free agent.[17]
On February 25, 2025, Finnegan re-signed with the Nationals on a one-year, $6 million contract.[18]
Finnegan and his now-wife Rachel got engaged in January 2019.[19] They have three children: Brayden Carsen, and Cooper.[20] Carsen and Cooper were born on August 31, 2021.[21]
