Giolito, Lopez Earn Weekly Honors
Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez became the latest Nationals pitchers to earn weekly awards, named as the Pitcher of the Week for the Sally League and the New York-Penn League, respectively for the week of June 23-29.
Giolito, who was named to the Futures Game last week, pitched just once but threw six shutout innings in the nightcap of a doubleheader last Thursday. The Nats #1 prospect struck out a career-best nine batters while tying his season-high for innings pitched. For the season, the soon-to-be 20-year-old is 3-2 in 12 starts with a 2.30 ERA, an FIP of 3.81, and a WHIP of 1.04. In 54⅔ innings, he’s struck 61 (10.04/9IP) and walked 21 (3.46) while giving up five HRs. He’s the second Hagerstown pitcher to earn the award in as many weeks.
Lopez also pitched just once last Thursday, getting one last out (five and 2/3rds IP) and one less K (eight) but three fewer hits (zero) than Giolito in an 11-2 Auburn win. The 20-y.o. is in his third professional season and second north of Florida as he’s split time both this year and last year between the Doubledays and Suns. In three starts for Auburn, he’s 1-1 with a line of 1.23/3.15/0.89 with seven walks and 13 strikeouts in 14⅔ innings thus far in 2014.
curious development track on Lopez, no CGL and only 10 innings in the DSL. until a couple of weeks ago he was completely off my radar. any intel on him anywhere?
Agreed on the Lopez development–this is the first that I am really taking a look at him. If there is a scouting report somewhere that you can point us to, that would make my day (literally).
Saw him two weeks ago in Ohio. Throw mid-to-high-90s heat but not much else. Players working the gun confirmed the previous comments that he can hit triple digits. Average-sized guy = 6′ (in 1-2″ heels), 185 lbs (after Thanksgiving dinner). My guess is that he was an outfielder that couldn’t hit or shortstop that couldn’t field and the coaches decided to try to turn him into a pitcher.
thx Luke