Washington Nationals Re-Assign Lucas Giolito To Minor League Camp
Today, the Washington Nationals re-assigned top prospect Lucas Giolito to minor league camp
Before tonight’s game against the New York Yankees (5:05 PM ET, MASN), the Washington Nationals continued to trim down their roster before Opening Day as they re-assigned their top prospect, Lucas Giolito, to minor league camp:
The #Nats have reassigned RHP Lucas Giolito to Minor League camp.
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) March 23, 2016
In his first Major League camp, the 21-year-old right-hander went 1-0 with a 4.05 ERA in four games. His lone start came last Friday against the Mets when he gave up one hit over two innings and struck out one against most of the New York regulars down in Port St. Lucie. He is ranked as the number three prospect in all of baseball by MLB Pipeline.
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While Giolito isn’t going to start the 2016 season with the big league club, that doesn’t mean that he didn’t make a great first impression on his teammates, new manager Dusty Baker, and the front office. Here is what president and general manager Mike Rizzo had to say about the Nats’ first round pick back in 2012 earlier today:
Mike Rizzo believes Lucas Giolito is close to big league ready. Giolito still needs to work on some of the nuances of pitching.
— William Ladson (@ladsonbill24) March 23, 2016
Last month, Baker had some good comments about Giolito in an article written by Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post:
“I’ll tell you, he’s a character, number one. The guy has a quick arm, very quick arm. He has a very good pitching body. Good demeanor. And a very bright young man.” (h/t Janes, Washington Post)
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It remains to be seen whether Giolito will head to double-A Harrisburg, where he finished the 2015 season (4-2, 3.80 ERA in eight starts) or at triple-A Syracuse. Last season, with the Senators and high-A Potomac, Giolito went 7-7 with a 3.15 ERA in 21 games (19 starts) and struck out 137 batters over the course of 117 innings.
This move isn’t as much of a surprise when you consider the Nats’ starting rotation is set, barring injury, heading into the season. However, considering the Nationals don’t have much pitching depth at the upper tiers of the minor league system other than A.J. Cole and Taylor Jordan, it is expected that Giolito will make his debut this season.
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As I told the Braves’ FanSided site, Tomahawk Take, in our Q+A session with them that was published today, if the Nationals are going to make the postseason this season, they are going to need Giolito and shortstop prospect Trea Turner to make a significant impact. One thing is for certain, when Giolito makes his Major League debut, it will be a can’t miss event in the nation’s capital.