Top prospect Giolito on schedule for second start Tuesday

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

July 07, 2013, 12:53pm

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Right-hander Lucas Giolito, the top prospect in the Nationals system, will make his next start for the Gulf Coast Nationals on Tuesday afternoon against the GCL Cardinals, according to Nationals director of player development Doug Harris. In his season debut last week, Giolito was pulled after only 1/3 of an inning in which he allowed two hits, two runs, one earned, two walks and one strikeout. This is positive news on two fronts. First, this means that Giolito was not pulled the first start for a health-related issue. The July 3 start was his first since recovery from Tommy John surgery performed Sept. 13, 2012. Second, Giolito will face the same team that he faced in his debut. The GCL Nats lost to the GCL Cardinals 18-3 in that first game. It will be a very good test to see how he is doing about a week later and against hitters who think they might know what he offers. Also, this GCL Nats team is 11-3 as it reaches its weekly Sunday off-day. They have been able to generate offense and pitch well early on, which will be good behind Giolito in this his second start. He was reportedly supposed to go two innings in his last start. That might be the goal Tuesday, as well.