Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Splitter: 60 | Control: 50 | Overall: 55

A showcase standout out of Round Rock (Texas) HS, Sykora got paid with a $2.6 million bonus as a third-rounder in 2023. In his first full season, he was one of the Minors’ best pitchers with a 2.33 ERA and 129 strikeouts in 85 innings at Single-A Fredericksburg while dealing with a hip issue that required offseason surgery. He climbed to Double-A in 2025 with even more spectacular numbers (1.79 ERA, 79 strikeouts in 45 1/3 innings) but hit the IL with triceps soreness in July. An MRI revealed a torn UCL, and he underwent elbow reconstruction in August. The surgery will keep him off a Minor League mound until the second half of 2026 at the earliest.

Sykora rocks back and forth in the stretch before getting going with a sizable leg kick. His range of motion was affected by the original hip issue, but with that behind him, he was more athletic off the mound before the arm problems. His fastball sat in the 94-97 mph range with decent ride, and he got close to 7 feet of extension from his 6-foot-6 frame. Sykora’s mid-80s splitter became his trademark secondary over his low-80s slider; it’s a real spin killer that showed improved command in ’25. He still threw his slider a ton last year and could manipulate its shape -- more sweep away from righties, more drop when needed against lefties -- leading to prominent whiffs.

The big Texan can work to all quadrants but can look like he’s trying to blow pitches by hitters rather than locate at times. The hope is that he’s getting his injury issues cleaned up early in his career and can return to the early levels of stuff and performance in his next fully healthy campaign, potentially in his age-23 season of 2027.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Splitter: 60 | Control: 50 | Overall: 55

Sykora was a showcase circuit standout coming out of Round Rock (Texas) HS with star turns in the PDP League and Area Code Games, and while he went in the third round to the Nationals in 2023, he signed for $2.6 million (roughly top 35 money). He debuted in the pros a year later with Single-A Fredericksburg and was one of the Minors’ most dominant pitchers. His 39.2 percent strikeout rate and 20.8 percent swinging-strike rate were both tops among 551 Minor Leaguers with at least 80 innings, and he also finished with a 2.33 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and .167 average-against over 85 frames in the Carolina League.

Checking in at 6-foot-6, Sykora starts his delivery with a big leg kick, getting his left knee almost up to his shoulder before getting down the hill with solid extension. After throwing harder as a showcase pitcher, the right-hander settled in around the 93-96 mph range with his fastball as a professional, and there’s hope he could add another tick with more pro strength training. It was good enough to buzz past Single-A hitters in the top of the zone in 2024, and a mid-80s splitter played well off it with low spin and sufficient fade. An 83-86 mph slider also featured enough drop to generate whiffs with break the other way, and it was notable that Sykora had near-equal splits against batters from both sides.

The former Texas commit walked 8.2 percent of his batters, but part of his success in that department stemmed from getting chase outside the zone. More patient upper-level hitters will test that control. Sykora was slowed out of the gate in 2025 due to offseason hip surgery but took off once he made his season debut in May. Two months later, his progress was stopped again, first by triceps soreness and then a torn UCL discovered as part of an MRI in July. After undergoing elbow reconstruction surgery, he’ll likely be off a Minor League mound until late 2026 at the earliest.

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Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 55 | Splitter: 60 | Control: 50 | Overall: 55

Although it wasn’t a banner year for high-school arms in 2023, Sykora gave scouts and organizations plenty to dream on as the holder of arguably the best fastball in his class. He dominated at both the PDP League and Area Code Games in the summer before his senior year and entered the Draft as MLB Pipeline’s No. 40 prospect. He may have fallen to the Nationals’ third-round pick at 71st overall, but Washington signed him for $2.6 million (roughly Top 35 money) to get him away from a Texas commitment.

That aforementioned heater touched 101 as an amateur and was typically around 95-98 mph with a flat approach angle and some armside run. His mid-80s splitter dives nicely as it approaches the plate, giving some evaluators belief it could be a plus pitch, while his short slider in the same velocity band flashes above-average but is a touch less consistent. It helps that Sykora fires all three pitches from a tall 6-foot-6 frame and hides the ball until late into his delivery.

Because he had the stuff, Sykora went right after showcase hitters and could beat them in the zone. He might have to take a little off early in his career as he gets used to a professional workload, but there’s hope he could have at least average control needed to be a future starter. As is the case throughout the Nats system, this all equates to a long-term project with potential high-ceiling payoff.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 55 | Splitter: 60 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

Syokora had the biggest fastball in the high school class, reaching triple digits on the showcase circuit while showing he was more than just a flamethrower. He was arguably the most dominant pitcher at both the PDP League and the Area Code Games. Washington selected the righty in the third round and signed him for $2.6 million, which equates to Top 35 money.

Sykora's fastball not only parks at 95-98 mph and can reach 101, but it also comes with a flat approach angle and late arm-side run. He shows the aptitude to locate and miss bats with both of his secondary pitches, which could become plus offerings when fully developed. His short slider and his splitter both sit in the mid-80s, and the latter dives when it approaches the plate. 

Both physical and athletic, Sykora repeats his sound delivery well and pounded the strike zone last summer against top competition. Scouts praise his intelligence and work ethic, and there's still projection remaining in his 6-foot-6 frame. He’ll have a long path of development in the rebuilding Washington system, but there’s ample ceiling here.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 55 | Splitter: 60 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50 

Texas hasn't placed a prep pitcher in the first round since 2018, but Sykora could put an end to that dry spell. He has the biggest fastball in the high school class, reaching triple digits on the showcase circuit while showing he was more than just a flamethrower. He was arguably the most dominant pitcher at both the PDP League and the Area Code Games.

Sykora's fastball not only parks at 95-98 mph and can reach 101, but it also comes with a flat approach angle and late arm-side run. He shows the aptitude to locate and miss bats with both of his secondary pitches, which could become plus offerings when fully developed. His short slider and his splitter both sit in the mid-80s, and the latter dives when it approaches the plate. 

Both physical and athletic, Sykora repeats his sound delivery well and pounded the strike zone last summer against top competition. Scouts praise his intelligence and work ethic, and there's still projection remaining in his 6-foot-6 frame. A Texas recruit, he'll be Draft-eligible as a 21-year-old sophomore in 2025 if he attends college. 

Awards

SAL Pitcher of the Month

Month	Team
06/2025

MiLB Awards All-MiLB Prospect First Team

Year	Team
2024

Baseball America Low Class A All-Star

Year	Team
2024

CAR Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2024

CAR Pitcher of the Year

Year	Team
2024

CAR Pitcher of the Month

Month	Team
08/2024

CAR Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
08/11/2024
08/04/2024

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	01/26/2026	Washington Nationals invited non-roster RHP Travis Sykora to spring training.
	11/06/2025	Harrisburg Senators activated RHP Travis Sykora from the 60-day injured list.
	07/29/2025	Harrisburg Senators placed RHP Travis Sykora on the 60-day injured list.
	07/11/2025	National League Futures activated RHP Travis Sykora.
	07/09/2025	Harrisburg Senators placed RHP Travis Sykora on the 7-day injured list.
	06/26/2025	RHP Travis Sykora assigned to Harrisburg Senators from Wilmington Blue Rocks.
	05/22/2025	RHP Travis Sykora assigned to Wilmington Blue Rocks from Fredericksburg Nationals.
	05/14/2025	Fredericksburg Nationals activated RHP Travis Sykora from the 7-day injured list.
	05/03/2025	Fredericksburg Nationals sent RHP Travis Sykora on a rehab assignment to FCL Nationals.
	05/03/2025	Fredericksburg Nationals sent RHP Travis Sykora on a rehab assignment to FCL Nationals.
	04/02/2025	Fredericksburg Nationals placed RHP Travis Sykora on the 7-day injured list.
	03/14/2025	RHP Travis Sykora assigned to Washington Nationals Prospects.
	04/25/2024	RHP Travis Sykora assigned to Fredericksburg Nationals from FCL Nationals.
	04/25/2024	Fredericksburg Nationals activated RHP Travis Sykora.
	03/07/2024	Washington Nationals Prospects activated RHP Travis Sykora.
	08/03/2023	Washington Nationals signed RHP Travis Sykora.
	08/03/2023	RHP Travis Sykora assigned to FCL Nationals.
	06/15/2023	RHP Travis Sykora assigned to College Workout.
	07/01/2022	High School Workout activated RHP Travis Sykora.
	07/01/2022	High School Workout activated RHP Travis Sykora.
	07/01/2022	RHP Travis Sykora assigned to High School Workout.
	07/01/2022	High School Workout activated RHP Travis Sykora.