Rated the nation’s top high school pitcher while projected by some to be the top pick in the Major League draft, Harvard-Westlake right-hander Lucas Giolito is out for the season after injuring his throwing elbow Tuesday in a 2-1 loss to visiting Alemany.
“He hurt it on his last pitch,” Harvard-Westlake coach Matt LaCour said.
Giolito underwent an MRI on Wednesday at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic, LaCour said.
“It’s a sprained UCL (ulnar collateral ligament), not a tear, and there is no surgery needed,” LaCour said. “It’s strictly a rehab process. The doctors are confident he will be just fine.”
The 6-foot-6 senior’s fastball has been clocked at 100 mph – the fastest in area history – and he hit 98 on Tuesday, going 6 1/3 innings while giving up two earned runs and striking out four.
If Giolito’s arm does not heal property, it could potentially cost him millions of dollars in bonus money. It is unclear if Giolito will pitch before the MLB draft in June.
“We’re not thinking about the future too much or the draft, but we expect a full recovery,” said Giolito’s father, Rick Giolito. “I’m just a parent, but from what I understand it’s a common injury that all pitchers go through. A slight sprain. If he was an adult, he would be on a 15-day disabled list or whatever.”
Considering dozens of scouts follow Giolito’s every move, including gathering to watch him warm up in the bullpen, the news came as a shock.
“Obviously, it’s been a pretty tough day,” LaCour said. “It doesn’t look like he’s going to pitch for us for the rest of the year, but he is seeing the best doctors, and I was at his house and he was in good spirits. I think the adults are taking it harder than he is.”
Rick Giolito and LaCour said Lucas was taking a day off before talking to the media.
“The game of baseball has always put players through adversity to make them better, and the whole team is going through that kind of adversity right now,” LaCour said. “Lucas was maybe the most well-liked player on the team, not just the center of what we do on the field. There is a lot more to him than that, a leader on the team and a leader on campus.
“Our guys are going to have to come to grips with it. But right now, it’s all brand new.”
Harvard-Westlake (4-2, 0-1) finishes a two-game series with first-place Alemany (5-1, 1-0) at 3:30 p.m. Friday at Alemany.
“This is a great loss for Harvard-Westlake, and I hope Lucas can make it back as soon as possible,” Alemany left fielder Corey Sims said. “(If not), I hope he can get ready for the next level now because he is one of the best pitchers I’ve faced.”
