The Washington Nationals and Rochester Red Wings reached an agreement in 2021 that is now entering its fifth year, with Rochester being Washington’s AAA affiliate. Rochester has had a minor-league baseball team since 1877.

At this time, Rochester is covered in white snow, but on March 28^th, it will open the 2025 season in Buffalo. It’s that time of year with Spring Training starting for the Nationals to do a Spring Preview on the Rochester Red Wings.

I will be doing an in-depth preview of the players listed on the Red Wings’ roster and some of the players listed on the 40-man roster that may start the year in Rochester. This preview will divide the players into five areas: Starting Pitchers, Relief Pitchers, Catchers, Infielders, and Outfielders. 

Starting Pitchers

RHP Brad Lord

Brad Lord was drafted by the Nationals in 2022. Last year was a year Lord will never forget. He jumped three levels, reaching AAA Rochester on June 23^rd. Lord was awarded the NATIONALS WAY AWARD, which is given to a player who demonstrates work ethic, leadership, and determination. Lord uses a very smooth, fluid, full windup. It almost looks like he’s putting very little effort into his pitching, which makes his sinking fastball sneaky fast.

He throws his fastball usually between 92-94 and can reach 96 mph. His secondary pitches are a slider at 89 mph and a changeup around 86. Lord is very good at changing a batter’s eye level, locating his pitches, and mixing the speed of his pitches. He attacks the strike zone without throwing one down the middle of the plate. When reporting and analyzing Lord, some media mentioned that his ERA went up later in the summer, which was an area of concern.

On August 17^th,  Lord took a line drive off his pitching hand. He was removed from the game and placed on the 7-Day IL. The hand was not broken, just bruised, and he returned to the mound two weeks later. In his two starts that followed his return from the IL, he had difficulty with location, and his velocity was down. In 12 starts, Lord gave up a total of 24 earned runs. In those two starts, after his injury, he pitched a total of five innings and gave up eight of his 24 earned runs. In his last start of the season against Iowa, the Brad Lord we knew was healthy. In that game, he pitched six innings, giving up one run while walking two and striking out seven. 

The Nationals have invited Lord to Spring Training. I think he will start the season in Rochester but will finish the season in Washington. Baseball America has Brad Lord ranked #29 on the Nationals’ Top Prospects.

RHP Tyler Stuart

Tyler Stuart was also drafted in the 2022 draft but by the New York Mets. Last year, Stuart was promoted to AA Binghamton in the Mets’ organization. Stuart had a good season for the Rumble Ponies in his 17 starts with a 3.96 ERA, with only 20 walks while striking out 90 batters before the Mets traded him to Washington for Jesse Winker, and the Nationals immediately promoted him to AAA Rochester.

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