TAMPA (September 25, 2024) – The Washington Nationals announced on Wednesday the organization's 2024 Minor League Awards. Brad Lord, a 2022 draft pick out of the University of South Florida, was named a recipient of the Nationals Way Award.
The Nationals Way Award is presented to the organization's Minor Leaguers who best demonstrate the professionalism, leadership, loyalty, passion, selflessness, durability, determination and work ethic required to play the game the "Washington Nationals Way". 
Lord rapidly ascended Washington's Minor League system in 2024, starting at High-A Wilmington before earning a promotion to Double-A Harrisburg and then Triple-A Rochester, where he concluded the season. The right-hander posted a 10-4 record with a 2.43 ERA over 25 starts and 129.2 IP with 135 strikeouts and only 49 walks across his three stops. Lord led Washington's Minor League system in ERA and opponent's batting average (.224), while ranking second in strikeouts and WHIP (1.20).
Lord was twice named the Eastern League (Double-A) Pitcher of the Month (June and July) and was tabbed the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week on June 17. Over nine starts from May 3-June 18 in Harrisburg, he allowed two or fewer earned runs where he posted an 8-0 record with a 0.79 ERA (5 ER/57.0 IP) with 19 walks and 56 strikeouts.
He began the season at High-A Wilmington and was promoted after just one start to Double-A Harrisburg on April 9, and finally promoted again to Triple-A on June 20.
Lord has compiled a 14-10 record with a 3.15 ERA (82 ER/234.1 IP) and 219 strikeouts over two Minor League seasons.
Lord was selected in the 18th round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals after spending the 2021-22 seasons at South Florida. He recorded 123 strikeouts over 124.0 IP with the Bulls. Lord's biggest performance at South Florida came in an elimination game against Tulane at the AAC Tournament on May 29, 2021. Lord struck out eight batters and didn't allow a run over 6.0 IP in a USF victory to propel the Bulls to the AAC Championship Game. South Florida won the AAC Championship and went on to win the 2021 Gainesville Regional to mark the program's first-ever NCAA Super Regional appearance.
About USF Baseball
The South Florida Baseball program played its first season in 1966 and will enter its 60th campaign in 2025. Mitch Hannahs was named South Florida's eighth head coach in program history on June 8, 2024 after compiling 355 wins over 11 seasons at Indiana State. The 2023 ABCA NCAA DI Midwest Region Coach of the Year guided the Sycamores to six conference titles and five NCAA Regionals.
The Bulls have made 14 NCAA Tournament appearances and earned their first-ever Super Regional berth in 2021. The Bulls have won five conference tournament titles (3 Sun Belt, 1 Metro and 1 American) and six regular season championships (3 Sun Belt, 2 Metro and 1 C-USA). USF baseball players have been recognized with All-America honors 12 times, most recently with third baseman David Villar in 2018, and 19 have earned Freshman All-America accolades, most recently Eric Snow in 2023. USF has had 131 MLB Draft Picks. Former 2018 first-round draft pick, Shane McClanahan, is a two-time MLB All-Star.
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