Monday, August 20, 2012

Tommy John surgery possible for Giolito

US Presswire photo
Lucas Giolito was shut down after one start in the Gulf Coast League last week.
Updated at 6:45 p.m.

Top Nationals draft pick Lucas Giolito has been shut down after making only one start as a professional and could need Tommy John surgery to repair a torn elbow ligament.

Giolito, the 16th overall pick in the June draft, reported "soreness" in his right elbow after a two-inning appearance Tuesday at the rookie Gulf Coast League in Viera, Fla., general manager Mike Rizzo said. The 18-year-old hurler was examined by team doctor Wiemi Douoguih and now will head home to Los Angeles to get a second opinion from orthopedist Lewis Yocum.

"We're in the process of scheduling that," Rizzo said. "And once we get a diagnosis from him, then we'll proceed with whatever we have to do."

Though a final course of action won't be decided until Giolito is examined, ligament replacement surgery is a distinct possibility. Yocum has performed that procedure on Stephen Strasburg, Jordan
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24 comments:

Holden Baroque said...

OK, now I am having nightmares of a giant praying mantis operating on Giolito's elbow ... or of a giant pitching mantis ("Chitin Mike"), and the subsequent national sports media storm over whether to shut the mantis down after 180 innings.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

This is pretty much what we knew was going to happen, so no surprise here. 2014 He should be ready to start his program. It is better he signed with the Nats then went to UCLA, so he can get the right professionals working this to start with.

Anonymous said...

They sure know how to pick 'em, don't they? Hope they didn't misplace that Groupon.

Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Me said...

We got lucky with Jesus and the Kid as our No. 1 overall. It was too much to ask the baseball gods to give us a sound kid with a history of arm trouble and just hope to close our eyes and wish all is well. This was totally expected. This is why he dropped to No. 16. People knew he had an arm that had to be wrapped in bubble wrap. Too bad.

One good Gio, one not so good.

Dr. Andrews on line 2.

sjm308 said...

I agree with Manassas here, this was not that big a surprise. He is younger than either Jordan or Steven and there is no need to rush. With the stats on the surgery getting better and better each year its really not the huge risk it used to be. Better that he gets it done now and by the same guy who worked on our stallions, then pitch for a couple of years and then go under the knife. He will still be a top talent when he gets through the rehab process and we will be waiting for another Cy Young candidate to join our other 3 winners. (some dream of praying mantis, I dream of World Series wins and Cy Young awards).

Go Nats!!

SonnyG10 said...

Being the optimist that I am, I believe he will come through the surgery with flying colors and Rizzo will have won his gamble. It's hard to get #1 top ranked draft choices when you win your division. What I hope doesn't happen is that they decide to let it heal on its own and then he blows it out when he's in the majors.

Laddie Blah Blah said...

Z-Mantis and NatsLady, from earlier thread -

Thanks so much for the info. Ours was a special case this time because we did not know the assigned seats (they were complementary) until we picked them up, and we were not allowed to pick them up until 2 hours before game time. I can understand the team policy in that regard - they don't want comp seats to be scalped. But I will print out your info in case I have to deal with a similar situation in the future.

BTW, NatsLady, I have been corrected by the lady in question. The guy who made her leave her seat was not a Nats employee. He looked like one to me (what do I know?), for some reason, but he showed her his ticket while I was getting some eats.

SonnyG10 said...

From an earlier thread:

SonnyG10 said...
Off subject, but I've been wondering what happened to Lincecum's velocity. He used to throw his fast ball 97-98 mph, but now only 92 or so. Did he have an injury I've not heard about? Any of you NIs know?

Laddie Blah Blah said...

Z-Mantis

"I've gone on ahead on occasion to get the tickets and come back around to the center-field gate, while they wait, or arrive later."

That was exactly what I suggested (wait while I got the tix), but some folks are both proud and stubborn, and when it's a lady, we have no chance.

baseballswami said...

Very young pitchers that throw lightening bolts. Comes with the territory . Get it over with.

The Real Feel Wood. Accept no substitutes. said...

Rob Dibble will tell you exactly why this happened. Kid was rushed to the majors.

Unknown said...

I was at work today looking up new info on this kid.. Dreaming of the Meyer/Giolito call ups in two years... hopefully he comes through man.. What a bummer hopefully we balk out tonight vs Atlanta

Tcostant said...

It not a big surprise, other than that they let him pitch in that game. Better to have TJ now, then burn major league service tim elater on it...

I'm just saying.

natsfan1a said...

Not surprised but wish him well whatever the decision.

NatsNut said...

LOL! post of the day, IMHO.

Bzl. said...
They sure know how to pick 'em, don't they? Hope they didn't misplace that Groupon.

Holden Baroque said...

NatsNut, seconded!

Holden Baroque said...

Staying with this thread for Laddie: one other thing: As NatsLady said, you have to be assertive with getting accommodations you need, but you also have to be assertive with her, respectfully, if you know she's going to overdo it, and run out of spoons, so to speak.

D'Gourds said...

This is good news! The sooner he has this thing fixed and gets it rehabbed, the better. We have control of him for a long time.

NatsLady said...

Z, exactly. As best I can, with my Mother, I don't give her a choice. If we are traveling together, I make arrangements for wheelchair in the airport, pickup, etc., at the time I purchase the tickets. I don't even ask how she feels, so it's not a negotiation or any reason for her to feel bad or try to "help" out with luggage or whatever. That's what the redcaps are for, and I just budget for it.

With my (late) grandmother, there came a point where we hired someone to clean. She was affronted, as if we were insulting her homemaking skills.

But she told us later it was "great" to have someone come in and clean the bathroom, polish the furniture, vacuum, etc. and she made friends with the girl. :) She still did the dishes and cooking herself, it was just the "heavy" cleaning. So it's a balance, we are not trying to take away her independence (though that did happen eventually) only to make her life enjoyable.

Unknown said...

Had he chosen college he would have the same injury at about the same time and he would have been paying for it. I doubt that a university would pay for this surgery.

A DC Wonk said...

Actually, yes, the Nats do know how to pick them.

As mentioned above, this is why he fell to 16. This is how a team with an 80-81 record gets a teenager who can throw 100 mph. This is how we get Rendon the year before.

The Nats think long term. And are patient. We're building a dynasty.

Snivius said...

Saw this coming a mile away...

Let's hope they don't just "let it rest" or just rely other rehab alone. I don't recall that wishful approach EVER working out with this team- pitchers or position player. All that conservative approach has ever done is delay the inevitable surgery, and prolong the absence.

NatsFanSinceStart said...

great. We drafted and bent over backwards to sign damaged goods. And what worse? We knew he had seriousw elbow ligament problems.

good job, guys.

Unknown said...

This guy is gonna be our #3/4 guy for sure.. get well sweet prince

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