Washington Nationals pitcher Konnor Pilkington returns to East Central High School for jersey retirement
HURLEY, Miss. (WXXV) — Saturday marked an exciting day at East Central High School, with one former Hornets standout making his return for a special reason.
Washington Nationals pitcher Konnor Pilkington traded Nationals Park for his high school field in Hurley, as the Hornets officially retired his jersey following the school’s annual youth baseball camp.
Pilkington played for East Central from 2011-2015, where he totaled more than 300 strikeouts and 20 wins on the mound as the top-rated left-handed pitcher in the Magnolia State. He played collegiate ball at Mississippi State and was drafted in the third round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox. Since then, he’s made his mark across professional baseball while never forgetting his roots.
Pilkington told WXXV more about what the support from the Hurley community has meant to him throughout his career.
“It’s been amazing, you know, you’ve got friends, family, people that I haven’t talked to in years still right behind me and supporting me all the way,” Pilkington said. “The community’s always had my back, and I’ve really been just blessed to know that people kind of recognize that I was here and stuff like that. I’ve never been the person to kind of boast or anything like that, but it’s just really and truly an honor to know that I’m being recognized and stuff like that.”
The jersey retirement also capped off what was a big morning for some of the littlest players on the diamond.
Students ranging in age from kindergarten to sixth grade had the chance to work on their skills with the East Central baseball team, practicing fundamentals like hitting, fielding and teamwork with some of the student-athletes that they look up to the most.
Getting the chance to meet an MLB players was the perfect end to the day for the campers. Pilkington shared that he wants to be an inspiration to those kids who are growing up on the same field that he did.
“I try to remember what I felt like when I was their age, you know, going up to a lot of the veteran guys that played college and stuff and the guys that I looked up to and stuff,” Pilkington explained, “So, I just want to be that role model for them to be able to look up to and be able to help them and guide them — be somebody they can kind of resemble their game after, so it means a lot to me.”
