 Selected by the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the 2003 amateur draft, Atilano was traded to the Washington Nationals on August 31, 2006, for veteran utilityman Daryle Ward.Atilano spent the beginning of the 2006 season pitching for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans of the high A-level Carolina League, where he accrued a win-loss record of 6–7 and an ERA of 4.50 in 18 starts and 1 relief appearance.After struggling at the beginning of the season, he went 3–0 with a 2.89 ERA in July.