Luc Giolito

[Stotle]

FYI, Giolito is throwing for scouts today. Stretching back to 120 ft. This is the first time he is allowing evaluators to watch his throwing session since shutting down.

No timetable yet for throwing off a mound.

[Stotle]

What do you make of this? They downplayed the injury, yet he's still not ready to throw off the mound. This seems a lot like a progression for an injured pitcher, for instance Zach Britton, who'd not ready to thow off a mound. With a week to go before the draft, this could be all you get to see and you sure won't see breaking stuff from 120 feet. I don't think you can tell anything from this. As minor as the injury was portrayed you would have thought he could have played catch from 120 feet a week after the injury. I remember Ben McDonald having a similary injury and he had to change the way he threw his curveball changing it from a super sharp breaker to a much less dangerous pitch.

Of course, this tells you that he'll sign for that right amount of money whatever that is (5-7M?). Otherwise, why even go through the horse and pony show?

I think the whole process raises questions as to durability, right now. I don't know that I'd risk early 1st Round money on the proposition. With a big note that I am not a recipient of medicals, my concern would be that he needs to build up strength in order for his elbow to handle throwing as hard as he does. That means increased risk of TJ or enduring a really slow climb through the minors so that you can properly strengthen the shoulder and build up endurance and durability.

Pass; I hope to sign you out of UCLA in three years and give you a fat check.

[Can_of_corn]

I think the whole process raises questions as to durability, right now. I don't know that I'd risk early 1st Round money on the proposition. With a big note that I am not a recipient of medicals, my concern would be that he needs to build up strength in order for his elbow to handle throwing as hard as he does. That means increased risk of TJ or enduring a really slow climb through the minors so that you can properly strengthen the shoulder and build up endurance and durability.

Pass; I hope to sign you out of UCLA in three years and give you a fat check.

I hope the O's are not picking high enough to select him in three years.

[24fps]

I hope the O's are not picking high enough to select him in three years.

Indeed.

One of the best aspects of this year's hot start is the prospect of no threads touting the strategic benefits of tanking the end of a season to snag a higher draft pick.

[xian4]

looks as if the Nats gamble hasn't paid off.

Courtesy of Keith Law

Nationals prospect Lucas Giolito has reinjured his elbow and is headed to see Dr. Yocum.

He made his professional debut on Aug. 14, pitching two innings for the Nationals' affiliate in the Gulf Coast League, but according to a source close to the player, Giolito's velocity dropped off substantially in his second inning of work and he was pulled from the game for further evaluation.

Giolito's spring season was cut short by a thickness tear in one of his elbow ligaments that did not require surgery at the time, although he did not pitch another game for Harvard-Westlake after the first week of March.

[Can_of_corn]

looks as if the Nats gamble hasn't paid off.

Courtesy of Keith Law

Nationals prospect Lucas Giolito has reinjured his elbow and is headed to see Dr. Yocum.

He made his professional debut on Aug. 14, pitching two innings for the Nationals' affiliate in the Gulf Coast League, but according to a source close to the player, Giolito's velocity dropped off substantially in his second inning of work and he was pulled from the game for further evaluation.

Giolito's spring season was cut short by a thickness tear in one of his elbow ligaments that did not require surgery at the time, although he did not pitch another game for Harvard-Westlake after the first week of March.

Certainly means they can't fast track him, but they don't have a need to. Get him cut up and start his development in '14. Slows things down but it doesn't doom him as a prospect.

Wonder if the Nats saw something in the physical and chose to sign him anyway?

[weams]

Certainly means they can't fast track him, but they don't have a need to. Get him cut up and start his development in '14. Slows things down but it doesn't doom him as a prospect.

Wonder if the Nats saw something in the physical and chose to sign him anyway?

Na. They love how the Tommy John process works to their advantage in pitching development. They've had good success so far. Except for when Boras starts telling the team how many innings his guys will pitch.

[weams]

FYI, Giolito is throwing for scouts today. Stretching back to 120 ft. This is the first time he is allowing evaluators to watch his throwing session since shutting down.

No timetable yet for throwing off a mound.

I guess it is a shame, but we all knew he was getting the TJ.

[xian4]

The truth is it would have been a big blow for the Orioles farm, had Giolito been our pick and had to have the surgery. It works for the Nats as they have plenty of prospects and can afford the recuperation and development time required for a potential stud like Luc Giolito.

[Can_of_corn]

The truth is it would have been a big blow for the Orioles farm, had Giolito been our pick and had to have the surgery. It works for the Nats as they have plenty of prospects and can afford the recuperation and development time required for a potential stud like Luc Giolito.

Better situation at the MLB level as well.

Of course if he comes back like Coffey did then that is another story. Sometimes folks forget that TJ surgery isn't 100% effective.

[weams]

Better situation at the MLB level as well.

Of course if he comes back like Coffey did then that is another story. Sometimes folks forget that TJ surgery isn't 100% effective.

I'd say they were due for one that isn't.

[eb45]

Better situation at the MLB level as well.

Of course if he comes back like Coffey did then that is another story. Sometimes folks forget that TJ surgery isn't 100% effective.

Coffey had TJ surgery in high school, then a shoulder issue as a pro I thought?

[Can_of_corn]

Coffey had TJ surgery in high school, then a shoulder issue as a pro I thought?

He has never shown anything close to his senior year velocity as a pro.

I don't recall a shoulder issue with him.

[eb45]

He has never shown anything close to his senior year velocity as a pro.

I don't recall a shoulder issue with him.

I seem to remember a strained shoulder at some point. But you're right, he got the TJ after flashing the 98 that got him a million dollars.

[baltfan]

Looks like the Nationals originally thought he wasn't going to need Tommy John surgery.

“We’re going to assess where he’s at as far as his progression to return to throw,” Rizzo said. “We expect him to climb on the mound in some type of competitive baseball sometime this year, hopefully in instructional league. We’re going to take it cautiously because he’s an extremely talented young pitcher.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/post/lucas-giolito-on-why-he-chose-to-sign-with-the-nationals-and-his-love-of-dc/2012/07/17/gJQAaUA4rW_blog.html

Questionable whether they would have made him the same offer if they knew he needed the surgery. The Nationals have received a lot of plaudits for Rendon and Giolito. It will be interesting to see how this works itself out.