We have all been trying to guess the MLB debut date for Lucas Giolito, and if you had June 28, 2016 as your date, it looks like you are the winner. Since the day Luc was drafted in the 1st round in 2012 at #16, Nats fans have dreamed about this day. Lucas is still 21 years old and has a birthday coming up in 2 weeks. As his pitching coach Mike Maddux described him, “He is a child in a man’s body” as he described Luc as a full-grown man 6’6″ and 240 to 250, but clearly still a kid at age 21. Yes, he is mature beyond his years, and a polite young man who was raised well in a wonderful family setting in Santa Monica, California.
Yes, I have stood next to Lucas, and he is a big big man and his size helps his downward plane on his ball making it more difficult to hit.
Who can forget former Mets GM Steve Phillips describing what he saw from Lucas Giolito from earlier this year, “The angles on his fastball, and the downhill power—just domination. Then he broke off a hook that my bowels locked like nobody is going to hit this thing. [laughter]. “Ohhhhh Nationals fans. He is un-be-lieve-able! Elite stuff. Top level. Top shelf stuff. Belvedere Vodka of pitching.”
The Mets have seen Lucas before in Spring Training, and that was not the same Lucas Giolito they will see today as he will be going max effort today. As Mike Maddux said, “Lucas might be revved up to 120mph and we might have to throw him for an hour before he starts to calm him down” which all was tongue in cheek except the part that he will be revved up because he will be. You dream your whole life of this day, and it is difficult to control the emotions.
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