Follow the Prospects: Brad Lord, RHP

[welch]

I would have called Parker the same, and Irvin, so maybe...

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I think the case for him was always "by his results, he's better than he looks. Not surprised that he didn't wow.

[IanRubbish]

All the home grown starters here are Round 4 or later.  Lord doesn't have a bad injury history, he threw 129 innings last year (more than 50% more than Travis Sykora), and throws strikes.  If he wants to get the org excited about his future here he needs to start throwing 100+, forget about going anywhere near the strike zone, go down with a season ending injury, and then have the Post run a puff piece next Spring about his recovery, his girlfriend, his dog, and his goal of pitching 30 innings in relief.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

All the home grown starters here are Round 4 or later.  Lord doesn't have a bad injury history, he threw 129 innings last year (more than 50% more than Travis Sykora), and throws strikes.

Paulo Espino.

[Smithian]

Paulo Espino.

Even World Series champion teams need a couple Joe Ross type who can can do different things for you?

Just don't want a rotation full of mop up #6 starters

[imref]

Might be a bit soon to have written him off. So far this spring: 4 games, 7.1 IP, 1.23 ERA / 0.680 WHIP, 1BB, 3Ks

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Might be a bit soon to have written him off. So far this spring: 4 games, 7.1 IP, 1.23 ERA / 0.680 WHIP, 1BB, 3Ks

it is never too soon to overreact to small samples

[imref]

it is never too soon to overreact to small samples

The way of WNFF.

[IanRubbish]

He'll probably start in Rochester, but he keeps in the ball in the park and throws strikes.  Could see him getting a callup at some point this year, especially with most of Rizzo's man crush draft picks sitting on the IL.

[imref]

Camerato names Lord as the Camp Standout so far:

Not everyone in this next wave of pitching -- "Hurler Hall?" -- was an early-round pick or a big trade acquisition. Lord joined the Nationals in 2022 as a senior taken in the 18th round of the Draft. He likely didn't set off any prospect alarms with his first full season across two levels of A-ball in 2023 other than his ability to fill up the strike zone.

Then came his breakout in 2024, splitting nearly all of the season between the top two levels of the Minors, making 25 starts and amassing nearly 130 very effective innings. Now he's the No. 23 prospect in the system and has been making a good impression in big league camp, allowing just one earned run (two total) in 7 1/3 relief innings. It's a small sample in shorter stints, but his velocity has taken a nice step forward, from averaging around 92-93 mph in 2024 to sitting 95-96 in Grapefruit League action.

"He's a strike machine, gets ahead with a four-seamer and two-seamer," Longosz said. "The secondaries are good but he just fools with the fastball. He can sink it, he can run it. He was a great starter last year. He came out of nowhere."

[welch]

Should even start the season in Washington. Looks like a 2-inning reliever, or even someone who can go three.

[imref]

need a nickname for him: Some possibilities (avoiding the blasphemous obvious ones)

- "My Sweet"
- "Jon"
- "Dark"
- "Sith"
- "Vader"
- "Rings"

[JCA-CrystalCity]

"of the Flies"

"Tracy"

"Fauntleroy"

"Jack"

[imref]

Farquaad?

[imref]

Dear Lord that was an awful outing.

[imref]

From Home Depot to the show:
https://wapo.st/3Xy8xOj

Good luck Brad!