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Three Washington Nationals' prospects on Keith Law's updated Top 50 Prospects list

Lucas Giolito, Trea Turner and Joe Ross showed up on the updated Top 50 prospects lists put out by Baseball America and ESPN's Keith Law. Giolito was called the top pitching prospect in baseball by both BA and Law. Turner and Ross = thanks, Padres!

By Patrick Reddington
Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Baseball America put three of Washington's top prospects (Lucas Giolito, no.2; Trea Turner, no.9; and Joe Ross, no.31) on their Midseason list of the Top 50 prospects in baseball, writing that Giolito is currently "baseball's best pitching prospect," Turner would soon be, "remembered for much more than being a player to be named later," and Ross, after a three-start "cameo" in the Nats' rotation, was a starter you could, "expect to see regularly before long."

Giolito and Turner just played in the Sirius/XM All-Star Futures Game this past weekend, catching everyone's attention with their respective talents.

"This year has kind of been like the best test of keeping my emotions under control on the mound. Keeping a positive mindset..." -Lucas Giolito on what he's learned so far this season

Heading into the All-Star Break, Giolito, who just turned 21, was (3-4) with a 2.76 ERA, a 1.68 FIP, 2.30 BB/9 and 11.66 K/9 in 58 ⅔ IP.

Turner, 22, in stops at Double-A in the San Diego Padres' organization and Washington's and then at Triple-A with the Nationals, put up a combined .311/.362/.456 line with 17 doubles, five triples and six home runs in 79 games and 340 plate appearances before he headed out to Cincinnati for the prospect showcase.

Ross, also 22, started the 2015 campaign at Double-A Harrisburg where he was (2-2) in nine starts with a 2.81 ERA, a 2.71 FIP, 2.10 BB/9 and 9.47 K/90 in 51 ⅓. In three starts for the Nationals, he was (2-1) with a 2.66 ERA, a 1.11 FIP, 0.89 BB/9 and 10.18 K/9 in 20 ⅓ innings.

The "other prospect" acquired along with Turner in the three-team deal with San Diego and Tampa Bay Rays this winter went down to Triple-A when he left the Nats' rotation and he's (2-1) with a 2.75 ERA, a 4.34 FIP, 3.20 BB/9 and 5.49 K/9 in 19 ⅔ IP for the Nationals' top minor league affiliate.

All three prospects made ESPN.com's Keith Law's midseason Top 50 list when it was released this morning.

Giolito lands at no.3, as the top-ranked pitcher on the list with Law writing that if there is a "perfect pitching prospect out there, this is it."

Turner's ranked at no.16 on the list with Law noting that the right-handed hitting and throwing shortstop has added strength that makes him an "extra-base-hit threat" along with "his 70 speed and bat control."

Ross is ranked at no.28 with Law writing that the right-hander is "super-athletic, has three above-average or better pitches" and added velocity thanks to a recent mechanical adjustment that added "more life" to his fastball.

Also included on Law's list, in the Honorable Mention section, is Nationals' prospect Reynaldo Lopez, who projects more as a reliever than a starter in the ESPN analyst's opinion. Lopez, 21, is (5-5) with a 4.30 ERA, 3.15 FIP, 2.55 BB/9 and 8.60 K/90 in 67 IP at High-A Potomac this season.

Check out Keith Law's entire Midseason Top 50 prospects list below (though it's for INSIDERS only, as noted below):

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