MLB 2012 Draft: Washington Nationals Select Pitcher Lucas Giolito

Lucas Giolito, RHP, Harvard-Westlake HS, Studio City, CA: The 6-6, 225 pound Giolito had a chance to be the first high school pitcher ever selected first-overall, until he sprained an ulnar collateral ligament in March. When healthy, he features a 95-99 MPH fastball, an outstanding curve, and a very strong changeup, along with advanced control for his age. He has a UCLA commitment to fall back on if he isn’t satisfied financially this year, but it seems unlikely that the Nationals would have pulled the trigger on this if they didn’t think they could get a deal done. His elbow injury makes it a big gamble, but with a potentially huge payoff: he has everything needed to be a genuine rotation anchor if his arm can hold up to the workload. The Nationals needed to boost pitching in the farm system following winter trades, and Giolito certainly fits that need.