Nationals select RHP Lucas Giolito with 16th-overall selection in '12 First-Year Player Draft

The Washington Nationals today selected 17 year-old right-handed pitcher Lucas Giolito (Harvard-Westlake School, California) with the 16th-overall pick in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Nationals Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Player Personnel Roy Clark and Nationals Director of Scouting Kris Kline made the joint announcement.

The 6-foot-6, 230 lbs. Giolito is regarded as one of the most advanced right-handed prep prospects to come out of Southern California in the last 20 years.

He possesses a fastball that sits in the mid-90’s and has touched triple digits on occasion, but it is his curve ball that sets his talents apart. Giolito’s work ethic is considered exemplary.

Giolito went 9-1 with 78 strikeouts and a 1.00 ERA in 70.1 innings as a senior at Harvard Westlake. He also threw three shutouts and tossed four complete games. In 2011, he was named a Perfect Game All-American for his efforts at Harvard-Westlake as a junior.