The Seattle Mariners have claimed right-hander off waivers from the Texas Rangers, according to announcements from both teams. Texas had designated the pitcher for assignment last week, while Seattle had enough room on its 40-man roster to make the move without a corresponding transaction. He has been assigned to Triple-A Tacoma.
Nolan Kingham’s addition comes after Seattle recently traded Luis Castillo, creating another potential opening for pitching depth. While the Mariners already have a strong starting rotation, adding a pitcher with minor league options gives them another arm to use as needed throughout the season.
The 29-year-old Nolan Kingham is a recent major league addition who has taken an unconventional route to the big leagues. Originally drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 2018, Kingham was released in March 2024 and subsequently continued his career in the Mexican League with the Sultanes de Monterrey. He remained with Monterrey into the beginning of the 2026 season, where he posted a 1.82 ERA across six starts. That performance caught the attention of the Rangers, who signed him to a minor league contract.
Kingham then joined Triple-A Round Rock, where he worked 46 1/3 innings across 11 appearances. His 6.99 ERA was certainly high, although the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League played a role in the inflated numbers. He recorded a 21.5% strikeout rate, an 8.3% walk rate and a 41.7% ground-ball rate, all of which were fairly ordinary. His results were also hurt by a .344 batting average on balls in play and a 62.3% strand rate.
Texas called Kingham up to the majors at the beginning of August, giving him his first opportunity at the big league level. He appeared in one game and surrendered one run over one inning before being designated for assignment.
For Seattle, the waiver claim carries relatively little risk. The Mariners had multiple openings on their 40-man roster and can now send Kingham to Tacoma to provide additional pitching depth. Their starting rotation remains anchored by Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryan Woo, Bryce Miller and Emerson Hancock, while prospects Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan are also developing behind them.
Kingham could still prove useful as a spot starter or long-relief option if Seattle needs additional coverage. Casey Lawrence recently opted out of his minor league contract, creating another opening in the organization’s pitching depth. With a full slate of minor league options, Kingham can remain in Tacoma and serve as organizational depth for the foreseeable future, provided he retains his spot on the 40-man roster.