Lucas Giolito jumps to number one in Keith Law's prospect rankings

Senior Writer for ESPN, Keith Law, took a break from discussing this year's upcoming draft to update his major league prospects list. With the season nearly two months old, some prospects are no longer prospects thanks to call ups. Other prospects -- the elect -- have only risen in promise while wowing the minor circuit. While a different set of others -- the reprobate perhaps -- have languished through an admittedly small sample beginning of the season.

Law has judged prospects professionally for at least 14 years -- since taking a position with the Toronto Blue Jays. Prior to that, he wrote at Baseball Prospectus for five years. Since 2006, Law has worked with ESPN as a scouting writer; there is no one more distinctly qualified and prominent that discusses prospects.

Two months into the season then, it's noteworthy that Law has released an updated version of his top 25 prospects. Sitting atop the list is the Washington Nationals' pitcher, Lucas Giolito.

Giolito also sits number one on the MLB.com rankings and seems to be the consensus number one prospect in baseball. Featuring a plus-fastball and plus-curveball, the 21-year old right-hander has been somewhat underwhelming at Double-A so far this season.

Over 35.1 innings, Giolito has allowed 23 runs -- only 15 earned however -- on 36 hits and 22 walks. Law attributes this to the Nationals coaching staff tinkering with Giolito's delivery and nothing more and also suggests an impending "arrival in the big leagues."

Perhaps one of the most noteworthy risers on prospect lists is Boston Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi. Starting the season with High-A Salem, Benintendi slashed .341/.413/.563 in 155 plate appearances. The 21-year old has been called up to Double-A and sits sixth on Law's prospect list. He is the highest ranked prospect of any player from the 2015 draft and Law thinks that both he and Dansby Swanson could contribute at the major league level as early as this year.

Meanwhile, the highest rated player according to MLB.com that does not appear on Law's revised top 25 is Texas Rangers' outfield prospect Lewis Brinson. At 13th overall according to MLB.com, scouts seem to think his speed will be a great weapon, though his fielding and his power are right there as well. For whatever reason, Law did not include Brinson in his top 25.

Perhaps Brinson's slow start to 2016 has played a role in this. In 161 plate appearances with Double-A Frisco this season, Brinson is only slashing .228/.275/.423. That's not nearly a good enough on-base percentage as Brinson's walk rate sits at a paltry five percent. That being said, there is clearly plenty of time to turn things around for the 22-year old.