Follow the Prospects: Lucas Giolito, RHP

[zimm_da_kid]

better than Strasburg already

[RobDibblesGhost]

Keith Law has an Insider-only piece on ESPN about Giolito and O's prospect Hunter Harvey. Does anyone who has access mind sharing what he has to say?

[imref]

Giolito showed more power than Harvey, though with a little less finesse, and was kept on a tighter leash, throwing 66 pitches in five innings before he was pulled. Giolito hit 97 mph in the first, throwing fastballs between 94 and 97 for his first 13 pitches of the game and pitched mostly at 91-95 for the rest of his outing. He blew batters away with pure velocity, especially by throwing the fastball midchest to hitters who couldn't lay off it. His curveball was plus, though not as sharp as Harvey's. It was bigger -- as you'd expect given his 6-foot-6 frame -- and still with tight rotation at 79-82 mph, and he did show he could shorten it up when he wanted to throw it for a strike. His changeup was above average, clocking at 78-83 mph and with good fading action and overall benefiting from good arm speed on the pitch.

Giolito's delivery hasn't changed much since high school -- a little more fluid coming forward with some minor changes to make sure he keeps his front shoulder closed at release. His slot is high three-quarters, and he gets on top of his fastball well, so, while the pitch doesn't have a ton of life, it'll be hard for hitters to elevate it. Giolito is still only about 20 months removed from Tommy John surgery, so this is all very positive news, and both he and Harvey have the potential to develop into top-of-the-rotation starters.

[RobDibblesGhost]

Great, thanks!

[Monarch]

Giolito ranked #25 in this top 150 prospects.

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2014/5/1/5640414/top-150-prospects-for-2014-baseball-john-sickels

[HalfSmokes]

Giolito ranked #25 in this top 150 prospects.

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2014/5/1/5640414/top-150-prospects-for-2014-baseball-john-sickels

one met and one marlin above him, NL east in general barely appears in that list- crap load of mets just outside, but not many actually in the top 150

[Mr Clean]

His mom is now an artist @LindsayFrostArt .   http://twitter.com/LGio27/status/461937230723182593/photo/1

[houston-nat]

His mom is now an artist @LindsayFrostArt .   http://twitter.com/LGio27/status/461937230723182593/photo/1

I had a look through. A few of the paintings are not good (Fenway, Lucas, HW Field), but the reason that they stand out is because many of them are terrific. She's got a special gift for thick brush strokes and textures. Baseball #2 is sold, which is too bad because I would have actually bought it. The top three landscapes are really good, and the baseball caps are almost all outstanding.

Momma Gio, if you're reading this thread, you should study the paintings of August Strindberg, another amateur painter who pursued some similar techniques and ideas in painting landscapes and objects.

[monkeyhit]

In Hagerstown today and will be watching Giolito from the stands behind home plate.  Bonus is that Ramos is going to rehabbing as the Suns' DH!

[tomterp]

In Hagerstown today and will be watching Giolito from the stands behind home plate.  Bonus is that Ramos is going to rehabbing as the Suns' DH!

Expecting the scouting report.

[Smithian]

Expecting the scouting report.

"Really damn good"

[monkeyhit]

Unimpressed with Gilolito, who was hit surprisingly easy by low A batters and was in no way in command of his pitches.  I expected him to blow away these kids. (There were a laughable number of scouts with their guns behind the plate, so I'm sure they were all impressed.)  He lasted 5 innings and got the win, but looked very average.  The pitcher on Saturday, Pivetta, was better.

Ramos just toyed with the lefty-hander for Lexington and drilled a oppo over two fences, just missing another one later on (wind was blowing left to right). Went 2for3 with a walk and 3 or 4 rbi.  He's ready...call him up and send somebody down.  Didn't catch. Just DHed.

Hagerstown has some nice position prospects...Baillou, Estarlin Martinez, Difo.  Drew Ward did nothing at the plate, but made a few plays at third.  Very raw.

The team is something like 19-7 so far.

[imref]

http://feedly.com/k/1nfcvVU. Natsgm scouts giolito.

[Lintyfresh85]

http://feedly.com/k/1nfcvVU. Natsgm scouts giolito.

Pretty solid assessment.

[Slateman]

freaking crapcan this cockstain

[Tokeydog]

freaking crapcan this cockstain

That's kind of brutal don't ya think.

[Slateman]

That's kind of brutal don't ya think.

Perfection at all times.

[Plowshare]

You were saying?

Hagerstown's Lucas Giolito's line - 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K

[Mr Clean]

You were saying?

Hagerstown's Lucas Giolito's line - 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K

Nice. Domination.

[imref]

You were saying?

Hagerstown's Lucas Giolito's line - 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K

Ace?

[sportsfan882]

Giolito's dad ripping the injury expert Will Carroll for saying Giolito has terrible mechanics and will get hurt again.

Will Carroll ‏@injuryexpert  5h
@mwash1983 And he's going to blow out his arm again.

Will Carroll ‏@injuryexpert  4h
@mwash1983 Utterly horrible mechanics.

Rick Giolito ‏@RickGiolito  54m
Who are these idiots? RT @RumorsandRants: @mwash1983 @injuryexpert Giolito's mechanics are horrendous. Not as bad as Strasburg's IMO but bad

Will CarrollVerified account
‏@injuryexpert
@rickgiolito *tips cap

Will Carroll ‏@injuryexpert  1m
@rickgiolito Hope I'm wrong. When healthy, he's got a special arm.

[PC]

He loses all credibility with "Not as bad as Strasburg's" in light of where Matt Moore, Harvey and Jose Fernandez, whose mechanics people like Carroll raved about have ended up.

[tomterp]

Some excerpts from a scouting report by CJ Whitman, filed 8-2. 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=23518#pitreport75

Mechanics
Big boy; muscular build throughout; dreamer’s body for an innings-eater/horse; elite arm strength; stays tall throughout delivery; arm stab in back to a high ¾ arm slot; creates extreme downhill plane; has high leg kick but momentum varies to the plate from the windup; stretch: 1.2-1.3 range; has extremely long stride and keeps good balance throughout delivery; hips and shoulders rotate and explode fast toward plate; can land toward 1B side and hips open early; ball explodes from hand; delivery has a bit of effort; can get violent at times when reaching back for extra velocity.

Pitch Type    Present Grade    Future Grade    Sitting Velocity    Peak Velocity    Report

FB    70    80    92-97    98    Sat comfortably at 92-95 but could reach back for 96, 97 when needed, hit 98; extreme plane; late, late life and bores on hitters; explosive out of hand; changes eye level an extreme amount; command is below average presently; with command improvement could be elite level pitch based on extreme plane and life making it nearly impossible to square.

CB    70    80    80-83    84    Wipeout pitch; extreme depth; looks like a fastball halfway through then dives; has true hammer 11-to-5 shape; tight, tight spin; massive snap and bite with two-plane break; can throw for a strike and as a chase pitch; elite level offering.

CH    50    65    82-87    88    Comes from same arm motion as FB; arm-side sink with deep vertical action; bottom falls out; very loose command; presently can get firm and lose effectiveness at higher velo; mostly effective because of FB fear; needs to throw in strike zone more to become effective swing-and-miss pitch; presently average with development to get to plus-plus.

Overall:

The extreme risk here is obvious, with a TJ on his resume. Giolito could very well be the top pitching prospect by year’s end. That being said, he’s not perfect. The command profile is fringy and needs work. Giolito could very well have the most elite arsenal in all of the minors but tends to nibble too much around the plate instead of attacking hitters. His fastball is an elite offering that he will dominate with at the highest level. An elite curveball. The changeup is a work in progress but when gets it, it might be his most effective pitch, based on hitters' fear of the others. Giolito is something special.

[imref]

Hope to see him at potomac soon.

[tomterp]

Hope to see him at potomac soon.

What, break up the Suns?