For most, Washington Nationals prospect Lucas Giolito is known as the top right-handed pitching prospect in baseball, but his skills on the diamond are quickly being rivaled by his skills in the kitchen.
The 21-year-old pitcher and his roommates, fellow prospects Spencer Kieboom and Nick Lee, are baking their way through spring training — much to the delight of the rest of the clubhouse.
Just kidding. 2 for the clubhouse tomorrow pic.twitter.com/623MmMNEJh
— Lucas Giolito (@LGio27) March 1, 2016
https://twitter.com/KieBOOM22/status/704427658730479619
The trio’s baking saga, which just wrapped up its third official installment, began by accident. One day earlier this month, Giolito was struck with a sudden inspiration to bake a cake, something Kieboom and Lee had no trouble getting behind.
As is often the case on the field, catchers help out their pitchers when the game isn’t going right. For Giolito and Kieboom, that applies to the kitchen as well. The catching prospect explained to the Washington Post‘s Chelsea Janes that he had to step in and help when Giolito needed PAM cooking spray for what were likely non-stick pans. That didn’t go well, but for minor leaguers, it’s more about the learning process.
When Giolito live-tweeted his initial efforts, he was so encouraged by the response that he’s returned to his kitchen for two more baking sessions. Last week’s “super brownie cookie combination” was the group’s most ambitious effort yet.
Ready! pic.twitter.com/BC0Bit0dW3
— Lucas Giolito (@LGio27) February 23, 2016
Are any of Giolito’s teammates on low-carb diets or trying to watch their sugar intake during spring training? That might be the only obstacle to what appears to be a productive, low-risk hobby for the right-hander.
Giolito is ranked as the third-best prospect in baseball, but if this whole baseball thing does not work out, he might be able to swing a cooking show instead. Maybe MLB Network should consider giving him one anyway. Max Scherzer, Jayson Werth and Bryce Harper could make strong judges if it turned into a competition-type of show.