Brad Lord Makes the Opening Day Roster
Perhaps injuries were a factor… but there are always injuries, especially with Washington. Perhaps age was a factor (he turned 25 last month)… though prior to the pandemic, you could have counted the number of HS draftees on one hand, so an older prospect was the rule not the exception.
But for the second straight season, the Nats added someone to the 40-man roster ahead of Opening Day. Last year, it was Trey Lipscomb. This year, it’s Brad Lord, a 2024 co-“Nationals Way” player from last season.
The 25-y.o. has gone from being the 18th Rd. pick in 2022 to the Opening Day roster after a meteoric three-level season in 2024, including a stellar 1.66/1.03/3.05 mark in 12 starts for Harrisburg. That also landed him both the MLB Pipeline (#23 currently) and Baseball America (#29 in the post-publication list, #27 in the 2025 Handbook) Top 30’s.
Ostensibly, Lord will be working out of the bullpen as he did during spring training, but even Stevie Wonder can see he’s a built-in safety valve if (when) Jake Irvin and/or Mitchell Parker struggle. Just ten of his 52 appearances in the minors were as a reliever – all of which came early in the 2023 season, when the Nats reportedly adjusted his delivery and arm slot, then returned him to the rotation.
As noted in the comments, the injury to DJ Herz may have been the tipping point, though the Nats also placed Derek Law and Zach Brzykcy in the I.L. yesterday. Herz was moved from the 15-day I.L. (placed on Monday) to the see you next year 60-Day list yesterday. Former top prospect Jackson Rutledge was optioned yesterday as well.
Tomorrow, the full-season teams begin with Rochester—no roster announcement yet, but that’ll probably be today—scheduled to visit Buffalo tomorrow afternoon. Buckle up, kids, we’re about to start the 2025 ride.
Orlando Ribalta, while no longer a watch lister, also made the roster. Congrats to him too. He had a stellar spring: 1.88 ERA, 0.84 WHIP.
Lord and seven other drafted and developed players make the OD roster. you can argue that some of these players would not be part of a contenting teams roster but the transition is working.
No matter how one slices it, having an 18th round pick make the OD roster is a feather in the cap. If he’s actually cromulent, that would be a major accomplishment. Between Irvin, Herz, Parker, and Lord and the pipeline at some point we may have to reluctantly consider that the Nats pitching dev folks know what they’re doing.
I don’t understand the “especially for the Nationals” when it comes to injuries.All teams have pitching injuries, and the Nats’ rotation has been remarkably stable the last two seasons.
I am, of course, referring to the past 20 seasons and both starters and relievers.
I know that the Nats haven’t been big on having starters begin their MLB careers in the big team’s bullpen, but it kinda makes sense here. Given that Williams is pretty much limited to twice through the order, you can figure Lord is going to get at least once through the order every 5 days. Given that there are other short-outing starters in the rotation, maybe the idea is to give him a long outing twice a week so he gets big-league experience. (rather than the “just get some innings so we can get out of here” mop-up job)
I suspect Lord will be among the first guys sent down once someone comes off the I.L. Still no word on the Red Wings Roster, which could provide a small clue.
Sims and Poche’s performances may force other decisions.