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.