District Daily: Giolito discusses 2014, his future in Q&A with MLB.com

Good morning DoD readers! Start off your day with some great Washington Nationals articles from around the web in today’s District Daily:

Giolito discusses 2014, his future in Q&A

(Bill Ladson, MLB.com)

Right-hander Lucas Giolito is one of the reasons the Nationals’ farm system is going strong. Ranked by MLB.com as the Nats’ top prospect, Giolito, 20, showed he was fully recovered from Tommy John surgery last year while playing for Class A Hagerstown. In 20 starts, he was 10-2 with a 2.20 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 98 innings pitched. 

Where will Giolito be this year? It’s anyone’s guess at this point. There is talk that he could be a September callup as long as he is productive on the mound. 

MLB.com caught up with Giolito recently to talk about last year and his future with the Nationals.

MLB.com: Before the 2014 season, you were coming off Tommy John surgery. Were you surprised you were able to have a productive season? Read full article here.

More from District on Deck

NLDS nightmare behind him, Aaron Barrett is ready for strong sophomore season

(Chelsea Janes, Washington Post)

At NatsFest in mid-December, a young fan asked Aaron Barrett how he would come back from last season’s end, that infamous inning in which two pitches got away and took the decisive Game 4 of the National League Division Series with them. Barrett smiled as he remembered the cub reporter’s hard-hitting question. He answered the same question for the media later that day — just as he stood and answered it in the hours after it happened.

“Obviously, the season didn’t end the way we wanted it to, especially on my behalf, too. It’s not what I wanted; it’s not like I was trying for that,” Barrett said. “But I think the experience I gained over that outing and the playoffs in general, I think it’s only going to make me stronger, mentally, physically, everything. I think it’s an opportunity for me to grow but also the team to grow: I think it’s going to be a hungry club this year.” Read full article here.

Next: After career year, Denard Span must once again deliver for Nationals in 2015