Top Nationals pitching prospect Giolito promoted to Double-A

The Nationals' top prospect, right-hander Lucas Giolito, has been promoted to Double-A Harrisburg according to a release from the high Single-A Potomac Nationals.

The 21-year-old, a 2012 first-round selection, has gone 2-3 with a 2.06 ERA in his last 10 starts. On July 6 versus Wilmington, he went six innings, allowed three hits, no runs, one walk and struck out 10. In five of those starts, he did not surrender an earned run.

Rick Giolito, Lucas' father, broke the news on Twitter:

Proud of our boy @LGio27 on his promotion to Class AA Harrisburg @LindsayFrostArt Time to book some flights! ✈️⚾️ 👏 @HbgSenators #Nats

-- Rick Giolito (@RickGiolito) July 25, 2015

This is big news for the Nationals and Giolito as he has demonstrated he is better than the competition at the high Single-A level and has shown no aftereffects from his Tommy John surgery in 2012.

Baseball America lists Giolito has the No. 2 overall prospect in its midseason report, behind only Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager, the game's top prospect. Giolito is Baseball America's top pitching prospect.

The No. 9 overall prospect on that list is Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs shortstop Trea Turner.

Giolito is 3-5 with a 2.71 ERA in 13 games (11 starts) this season and has compiled 196 strikeouts in his past 33 games dating to the start of 2014.

Potomac also announced the promotion of left-hander Matt Purke and right-hander John Simms to Harrisburg.

Infielder Anthony Rendon has completed his rehabilitation assignment with the P-Nats.

Low Single-A Hagerstown left-handers Robert Orlan and Jake Walsh have been promoted to Potomac.

Potomac catcher Spencer Kieboom has been placed on the disabled list. Kieboom got hit with a foul tip Friday night and had to leave the game.