3. Lucas Giolito, starting pitcher, Chicago White Sox
We are still waiting on Lucas Giolito’s 2017 major league debut. But until that happens, we still have his short history.
The 22-year-old made his major league debut in 2016 after Steve Strasburg landed on the D.L. The then number one overall prospect pitched in four innings against the Mets, striking out one and walking two.
Giolito was drafted 16th overall in 2012. He was drafted a bit lower than desired thanks to a Tommy John surgery that season, but that seemed like something in the back of his mind.
Last year in 21.1 innings, he accumulated a 6.75 ERA but only had a 4.64-percent strikeout rate in a big league uniform. He’s doing an amazing job in Triple-A with a 10.80 K/9 ratio, but a 7.33 ERA and a losing record are a bit glaring for those who care about those statistics.
A lot of sportswriters have him being less than mediocre this season, but he does have some upside. Let’s hope he lives up to the hype he had last season.