Chicago White Sox: Lucas Giolito’s return to elite form

When Lucas Giolito first arrived to the Chicago White Sox, the expectations for the 22-year-old right-hander were sky high.

Acquired in the Adam Eaton trade along with Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning, Lucas Giolito was considered the prize of the deal and the top pitching prospect in baseball at the time. Alongside fellow top pitching prospect Michael Kopech, Giolito was expected to become a core piece of a dominant Chicago White Sox starting rotation for years to come.

In his first two seasons as a Southsider, Giolito was quite unimpressive, which can be expected of in a young pitcher such as himself. However, his name began to slip through the cracks in discussions of the White Sox’s young core. This tendency has certainly changed in 2019, as Giolito is beginning to look like the player the team expected him to become when they acquired him back in 2016.

Lucas has been off to a phenomenal start in 2019, posting a 3.35 ERA in six starts in 2019. His record this season is a fantastic 5-1, with five of those wins coming in a row. Giolito has not lost a game in over a month, playing at a near all-star level.

Of late, Lucas Giolito appears to be a totally different pitcher. Not only is he producing wins and numbers, but his mannerism on the mound appears completely rejuvenated. Giolito is pitching so much more confidently in 2019, as if he truly believes that he can be an elite pitcher in this league.

Perhaps the first two seasons in Chicago were purely part of a learning curve, or possibly the pressure of being an elite prospect in a large market. However, it appears that Lucas has finally settled into his role as a premier pitcher on this young White Sox roster.

Lucas’ future in Chicago is surely bright, and Lucas is absolutely going to be a part of it. He will likely be a top-two pitcher in the starting rotation, if not the ace. A rotation of Michael Kopech, Lucas Giolito, Carlos Rodon, Reynaldo Lopez, and Dylan Cease is an extremely young and dangerous group.

The futures for Chicago and Giolito are widely recognized as bright, Lucas may already be in the conversation for an all-star level player. His high win percentage on a rebuilding squad is quite remarkable. This alongside a very solid and seemingly decreasing ERA, Giolito could very well draw all-star consideration in 2019.

With the season-ending Tommy John for Rodon, the spotlight will be on Giolito as the Sox’s ace for the rest of the 2019 season. Look for Lucas to steadily improve this season and establish himself as a bright young star now and for the future.