Red Sox: Ranking the early favorites for AL Rookie of the Year
By Jimmy Longo
3. Lucas Giolito, RHP, Chicago White Sox
Transitioning from the Nationals organization to the American League side of Chicago, young right-hander Lucas Giolito will have every chance to make the White Sox starting rotation out of spring training. The centerpiece of the haul brought in by the White Sox in trading OF Adam Eaton, Giolito is ranked the 25th overall prospect in all of baseball by Baseball America’s 2017 rankings.
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Though Giolito’s prospect stature is cemented and his stuff is still raved about widely, his sample size during the 2016 season was not pretty. In four of the six games Giolito started, he gave up four runs and his longest outing in a major league game was only five innings, August 28th against the Rockies. Because of those two stats, Giolito’s ERA ended at 6.75 and a record of 0-1.
Using a three pitch mix of fastball, curve and change-up, Giolito has the makings of being able to form a formidable trio of young pitching of Jose Quintana, Carlos Rodon and Giolito in the White Sox rotation. Whether that be at the beginning of the season or if Giolito has to polish himself at AAA for a month or two, the young righty still has a significant chance at making noise amongst rookies in the central division and the American League.