Kiefer Lord Stats & Scouting Report

IP	2
ERA	0
WHIP	.5
BB/9	4.5
SO/9	4.5

Full name James Kiefer Lord
Born 06/22/2002 in Santa Monica, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Washington
Drafted in the 3rd round (86th overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 2023 (signed for $760,000).

View Draft Report

School: Washington Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.1
BA Grade:45/High
Tools:Fastball: 60. Slider: 45. Curveball: 45. Changeup: 30. Control: 50.

Lord transferred to Washington by way of Division III Carleton (Minn.) and quickly became one of the most impressive pitchers on the West Coast early in the season, though he battled inconsistencies throughout the year. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound righthander finished the year with a 6.19 ERA in 15 starts and 75.2 innings, with a 23.2% strikeout rate and 5.1% walk rate. He has a big frame with plenty of room to add more strength in the future and throws with a high-effort delivery with some length in his takeback, a three-quarter slot and some significant head whack in his finish. Lord has a beast of a fastball and the pitch averaged 94 mph and touched 99, with excellent riding life. He used the pitch more than 70% of the time and threw it for strikes consistently, though he seems to be more control-over-command with that pitch and overall. He needs to refine his secondaries to give hitters another quality look, and throws a low-80s slider that earns fringe-average evaluations and a mid-70s curveball that is similar or a tick worse. Lord has rarely used a mid-80s changeup and when he has thrown the pitch he’s shown little to no feel for it. Given his pitch mix and delivery, there’s real reliever risk with Lord, but he has the arm talent and physical projection to go early on day two.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade: 45/High

Track Record: Lord was one of the most fascinating stories in the 2023 draft as a self-taught pitcher who built his arm strength using online videos while at Division III Carleton (Minn.) before transferring to Washington for his junior year. The Orioles, enamored of his drive and aptitude to improve, signed him for slightly below-slot at $760,000 as a 2023 third-rounder. He made one appearance in the Florida Complex League before he was shut down for the season.

Scouting Report: Lord’s riding fastball was his best pitch at Washington. It sits in the mid 90s and tops out at 99 mph. It was also his carrying pitch--he threw it more than 70% of the time. The Orioles believe he can be more effective as he mixes in his secondaries more often. His slider is the best of them as an average pitch that was 83-84 mph and up to 86 with good shape at Washington, followed by an upper-70s curveball that he showed the ability to spin.

The Future: Throwing that curveball and adding an effective changeup will be separators for Lord as he tries to stay in a rotation, though the fastball can help him move through the minors quickly. He’ll likely begin at Low-A Delmarva with as he pursues a back-end rotation major league future.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 30 | Control: 50

Draft Prospects

School: Washington Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.1
BA Grade:45/High
Tools:Fastball: 60. Slider: 45. Curveball: 45. Changeup: 30. Control: 50.

Lord transferred to Washington by way of Division III Carleton (Minn.) and quickly became one of the most impressive pitchers on the West Coast early in the season, though he battled inconsistencies throughout the year. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound righthander finished the year with a 6.19 ERA in 15 starts and 75.2 innings, with a 23.2% strikeout rate and 5.1% walk rate. He has a big frame with plenty of room to add more strength in the future and throws with a high-effort delivery with some length in his takeback, a three-quarter slot and some significant head whack in his finish. Lord has a beast of a fastball and the pitch averaged 94 mph and touched 99, with excellent riding life. He used the pitch more than 70% of the time and threw it for strikes consistently, though he seems to be more control-over-command with that pitch and overall. He needs to refine his secondaries to give hitters another quality look, and throws a low-80s slider that earns fringe-average evaluations and a mid-70s curveball that is similar or a tick worse. Lord has rarely used a mid-80s changeup and when he has thrown the pitch he’s shown little to no feel for it. Given his pitch mix and delivery, there’s real reliever risk with Lord, but he has the arm talent and physical projection to go early on day two.