Two Nationals top prospects selected for the 2015 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game
Right-handed pitcher Lucas Giolito and infielder Trea Turner have been selected to represent the Washington Nationals in the 2015 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, which will be played at 3:00 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, July 12th at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. Major League Baseball made the announcement today on MLB Network.
Giolito, 20, is considered by many, including industry experts Baseball America and MLB.com, as the top pitching prospect in all of baseball. He is the consensus top prospect in the Nationals' organization and is ranked by MLB.com as the No. 4 prospect and by Baseball America as the No. 7 prospect overall. Giolito will participate in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game for the second consecutive season.
A first-round pick (No. 16 overall) in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft, Giolito is 2-4 with a 2.71 ERA (18 ER/43.2 IP) in eight starts for the Potomac Nationals of the Single-A Carolina League. He has piled up 57 strikeouts (seventh in the Carolina League) and has allowed 51 hits against just 12 walks this season.
Giolito was named the Washington Nationals 2014 Minor League Pitcher of the Year after going 10-2 with an organizational-best 2.20 ERA in 20 starts for Single-A Hagerstown of the South Atlantic League. He led Nationals farmhands with 110 strikeouts and, following the season, was named the "Most Outstanding Pitcher" and the "Top Major League Prospect" in the South Atlantic League by MiLB.com.
Turner, 21, joined the Nationals organization on June 14, completing the Dec. 18, 2014 three-team trade in which Washington also acquired right-handed pitcher Joe Ross. In ten games since joining the Double-A Harrisburg Senators, Turner is 14-for-39 (.359) with four doubles, one triple, four RBI, four stolen bases and six runs scored.
He joined the Nationals after hitting .322 (73-for-227) with 13 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 35 RBI, 24 walks, 11 stolen bases and 31 runs scored in 58 games for San Diego's Double-A affiliate, the San Antonio Missions. He posted a .385 on-base percentage, a .471 slugging percentage and an .856 OPS along the way. Turner's .322 average ranked third and his .471 slugging percentage ranked tied for sixth in the Texas League at the time of the trade.
A first-round selection in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft (No. 13 overall), Turner entered the 2015 season rated as the No. 2 prospect in the Padres' chain and the No. 65 prospect in all of baseball, according to Baseball America. The same publication cited Turner as having the "Best Strike-Zone Discipline," and being the "Best Athlete" and "Best Defensive Infielder" in the San Diego Minor League system prior to the trade to Washington. He is currently ranked as the No. 51 prospect in baseball, according to MLB.com.
Major League Baseball, in conjunction with the Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau, MLB.com, Baseball America and the 30 Major League Clubs, selected the 25 players currently on each team.