The Washington Nationals are going to give a rising pitching prospect a chance to make his case for a new role on the pitching staff.
As the Washington Nationals approach the final week of spring training, they are focused on finalizing the remaining spots on their roster, particularly the bullpen. While the team didn’t make major moves during the offseason, they were able to bring back last year’s closer, Kyle Finnegan, at a more affordable rate after releasing him in November.
One player who could see a change in his role is starting pitcher Brad Lord. Originally, the plan for Lord this spring was to give him some additional Major League experience before sending him back to the minors. However, his future with the team might be shifting. On Tuesday, Lord will have the opportunity to prove himself in a new situation.
Lord pitched a clean inning of relief in Monday’s spring training loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, striking out one batter. Normally, the 25-year-old right-hander would take the following day off, but manager Davey Martinez has decided to bring him back on Tuesday to assess how he handles pitching on consecutive days. This would be a significant change, as Lord has primarily been viewed as a starter since joining the organization as an 18th-round pick in 2022.
Martinez told The Washington Post that Lord could potentially have a role in the bullpen as a multi-inning reliever. To make that transition, Lord will need to demonstrate that he can perform well in back-to-back outings, which is less common for long relievers. However, there could be situations where Lord is called on to pitch in consecutive games, depending on the matchups.
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What’s driving this potential shift is Lord’s improved velocity, which is up from last year in the minors. His fastball, which averaged 96.4 mph at Triple-A Rochester last season, is now clocking in at 98 mph this spring. His development last season was significant, earning him the title of the Nationals’ No. 24 prospect heading into 2025, according to MLB Pipeline.
Lord began the 2024 season at High-A Wilmington but was promoted to both Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester, starting 12 games at each level. His overall performance garnered attention across the organization, posting a 10-4 record with a 2.43 ERA in 25 starts, along with 135 strikeouts and 49 walks in 129.2 innings. He even threw a complete-game shutout, a rare feat in the minors.
His numbers were particularly impressive at Harrisburg, where he went 8-1 with a 1.40 ERA, and solid at Rochester, where he posted a 2-3 record with a 3.93 ERA.
