Nationals sign top pick Giolito
The Washington Nationals have signed first round pick, Lucas Giolito, a right-handed pitcher in high school in southern California, to a contract with $2.925 million signing bonus. The deal, done before today's 5 pm deadline, secures the rights of the 16th pick in the previous MLB draft. The contract forced the Nats to exceed their allotted rookie pool money by about $100,00, which will force the team to pay a minor fine, but not surrender any future draft choices.
Many consider Giolito to instantly be the top prospect in the Nats' system due to his 100-mph fastball, brilliant curveball and a decent changeup pitch. He does have a red flag, though -- he spent much of his senior year in high school with a strained ligament in his elbow.
