Right-hander Lucas Giolito, the Washington Nationals' first pick in the first-year player draft, has reinjured his elbow and will be evaluated this week to determine the extent of the injury, a team spokesperson said.
The pitcher will be examined by orthopedic specialist Dr. Lewis Yocum.
Giolito was the 16th overall pick in this year's draft out of Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles. He chose to sign with the Nationals for a $2.925 million bonus, turning down a scholarship to pitch at UCLA.
He made his professional debut on Aug. 14, pitching two innings for the Nationals' affiliate in the Gulf Coast League, but according to a source close to the player, Giolito's velocity dropped off substantially in his second inning of work, and he was pulled from the game for further evaluation.
Giolito's spring season was cut short by a thickness tear in one of his elbow ligaments that did not require surgery at the time, although he did not pitch another game for Harvard-Westlake after the first week of March.