When
Perfect Game updated its national top prospect rankings at the end of
August, there was a new gun-slinging sheriff at the top of the class
of 2012.
Southern
California right-hander Lucas Giolito, a strapping 6-foot-6,
230-pounder with a fastball that has reached the upper 90s,
supplanted Florida right-hander/infielder Lance McCullers as the
top-ranked prospect in the class in the updated rankings.
His
climb to No. 1 from No. 2 in the rankings came after a summer in
which Giolito wowed scouts and college coaches alike, and earned
selection to the West Team roster at last month’s Perfect Game
All-American Classic presented by Rawlings in San Diego. He was the
West’s starting pitcher in the Classic, and pitched a perfect 1-2-3
first inning.
At
the PG All-American Classic Awards Banquet on the night of Aug. 13,
Giolito was named the 2011 Baseball America Pitcher of the Year
Award. He earned the honor largely on his performance in the spring
as a junior at Harvard-Westlake High School in Studio City, Calif.,
when he went 9-1 with a 1.00 ERA, while striking out 78 in 70 1/3
innings of work.
“It’s
an unbelievable honor,” Giolito said about being named to the
Classic roster. “I’ve been working hard for it for a long time
and being able to partake in that kind of experience is just
unbelievable. I’m not going in expecting anything performance-wise,
I just want to go in and have the time of my life. I’ve been
looking forward to it all summer.”
The
Pitcher of the Year Award was presented to Giolito by Lee Folger,
President and Publisher of Baseball America.
“Baseball
America has been involved with the Perfect Game All-American Classic
since its inception in 2003,” Folger told the assembled crowd at
the Awards Banquet. “Since 2003, rising stars such as Buster Posey
and Justin Upton have worn the Perfect Game All-American jersey on
their way to promising professional baseball careers.
“Participation
in the Classic signifies an opportunity to build a bright future in
the next levels of baseball, and it’s a thrill to be the room with
such exciting talent and players of character.”
Giolito
has verbally committed to UCLA, as have fellow Classic West Team
pitchers Max Fried, Cody Poteet and Hunter Virant. During their four
days together in San Diego, the foursome earned a reputation as a
group of guys who like to keep things loose.
“I
would say that this group right here, we’re a little loose,”
Giolito said before an All-American Classic practice session. “We
are a bunch of comedians, I guess. Hunter’s a funny kid, Cody is
hilarious – I’m not so much myself but I think it’s even rubbed
off on me a little bit.
“It’s
a bunch of real good kids who are serious about the sport but at the
same time they like having a good time relaxing.”
Through
his participation in various Perfect Game events over the last couple
of years, Giolito was able to project himself as one of the nation’s
top prospects. And there’s no question he belongs among the elite.
“Through
all these showcases and events and all these things, I’ve gotten to
know a lot of (the top players), even if they’re from the other
side of the country,” Giolito said. “Being able to immerse
yourself in other personalities and maybe even other cultures from
other parts of the country, that’s a huge educational experience.”