Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Lucas Giolito and how did the White Sox get him?
Lucas Giolito was the centerpiece of the trade that sent Adam Eaton to the Washington Nationals. He was considered the crown jewel of that deal and is expected to be the White Sox future ace.
How did Lucas Giolito perform in the minor leagues?
Giolito was dominant in the minors, going 25-15 with a 2.73 ERA over 75 games and 369 innings. He also posted an impressive 397/123 K/BB ratio during his minor league career.
What did the NL scout say about Lucas Giolito's future?
A National League scout quoted in an ESPN article by Jerry Crasnick compared Giolito to Jon Rauch and Luke Hochevar, suggesting he would end up as a bullpen guy. The scout also implied the Nationals figured out Giolito's limitations before Chicago did.
Who are Jon Rauch and Luke Hochevar and why is the comparison so bad?
Jon Rauch was a career middle reliever who posted a 3.90 ERA over 556 games and never made an All-Star Game, while Luke Hochevar was the first overall pick in 2006 who is widely considered a draft bust with a 4.98 career ERA. Neither pitcher was ever a dominant force, which is why being compared to them is considered a terrible trajectory for a guy with Giolito's tools.
What was Lucas Giolito's velocity concern during Spring Training?
After consistently sitting in the mid to upper 90s throughout his career, Giolito was topping out at just 93 mph during Spring Training. That dip into the low 90s raised red flags about whether his stuff had diminished.