WILMINGTON, DE - Few pitching prospects in baseball have generated as much buzz in 2025 as Travis Sykora. Major League Baseball currently ranks Sykora as the Nationals’ top pitching and overall prospect and places him at No. 56 on its list of the Top 100 prospects overall. After a dominant debut professional season that saw him lead all of Minor League Baseball in strikeout rate and earn First Team All-MiLB Prospect honors, Sykora has returned from offseason hip surgery looking even sharper.

The 21-year-old right-hander, a third-round pick by the Washington Nationals in 2023, has quickly reestablished himself as one of the sport’s most electric young arms, blending power, precision, and a meticulous approach to his craft.

Entering June 13, 2025, Travis Sykora’s season numbers are eye-popping: in eight starts, he’s thrown 29 innings, surrendered only nine hits and three runs, issued five walks, and struck out 55 batters. His ERA sits at a remarkable 0.93, with a WHIP of 0.48 and a strikeout rate of 54.5%.

When asked about these numbers in our interview with the 21-year-old in Wilmington in his red Curly W shirt and knee-high socks, Sykora grinned and answered: “It feels great. It takes a lot of stress off you, 'cause when I go out there to pitch, like the other day, I ran into trouble. I know that even with giving up a couple runs on a bad day, like you're still gonna be in a good spot… the first five starts I had, six starts, or seven starts are all so good. So I put myself in a good spot where now I can just take off the pressure and go out there and pitch and keep building on it.”

Sykora attributes much of his success to meticulous preparation. “Preparation has always been a big part of my life. Many people know that routine is a big thing for me, and I plan out my week and execute my plan,” he explained. “I think it just puts me in a spot where, on game day, I've gone through my routine the same way every time, to where I wake up that morning, and like I'm ready to go. Like my body knows it's time to pitch. Every little thing from day one to day six between my starts is the same.”

Known for his high leg kick and unorthodox mechanics, Sykora’s delivery is as distinctive as his results. “The delivery of the high leg kick and just a weird, like unorthodox mechanics, just happened naturally. I guess the way I'm built and the way my, you know, body's structured. I think that's kind of just how my body naturally produces power,” he said. He credits legendary pitcher Nolan Ryan as an influence: “Over the last few years, like getting more serious, pitching, seeing Nolan Ryan had similar, you know, attributes to the way he threw it was like, okay, why don't we try to study that and like try to maximize what I'm doing based on what he did.”

Sykora’s journey hasn’t been without setbacks. A hip injury during his draft year in 2023 limited his performance and altered his mechanics. “In high school, all the way back in 2022, that was the last year my hip was healthy and everything was going well. I felt great. And then my draft year was just 2023. Uh, that's when my hip issue started. I was like, just. People only saw a shadow of what I could do on the field. But luckily, the draft worked, and then I got into pro ball with the Nationals. And I think, like last year for sure, the first season it was, it was honestly weird 'cause I was, the whole time I knew that I wasn't myself,” Sykora recalled.

After offseason surgery and a grueling rehabilitation, he finally feels like himself again. “Just the fact that I got surgery and I'm back to normal again. It is a huge stress relief, 'cause last year was just so much time putting effort into the hip. But now it's, I go to the field and focus on pitching, not the hip, which greatly helps me out.”

Wearing the Nationals uniform is a dream come true for Sykora. “It's special. To be a part of an MLB organization that's like every kid's dream, and to be with the Nationals is like the people here. The support they have for me, that's the biggest thing, is the support. The coaches, they're great here, just the guys in our system, whether that's Clemmy or all the other guys I've known over the years, it's cool to be back and play with them again,” he said

Despite the attention, Sykora remains humble. “I think it goes back to my faith in God, like knowing that all these good things can happen, but it can all be taken away within the snap of a finger. So, I don't like, I usually don't like to repost my stuff or like try to brag about it. It's just, if it's there, it's there. If it's not, it's not. And it's just going back to my faith and routine. Whether I pitch great or bad, it's going back to the routine and starting over, getting ready for my next start,” he explained.

His family has been a bedrock of support, especially during his injury. “My family, my parents in particular, have been a huge help. Going back to the routine, they're the ones who started teaching me how to create a calendar and plan, use my time wisely, not be late, and that kind of stuff. That's played a huge role in my career. And then just, you know, the support in the off-season, especially with the hip, like my mom, because I was on crutches for two months, and she had to make my food and help me walk around everywhere I went. So, just little things like that. My parents have done so much,” Sykora shared.

Asked where he sees himself in three years, Sykora’s ambitions are clear: “If you look at guys, you know, like Paul Skenes and those guys who got drafted in the same year as me, it's like they get drafted and then you look a year later and they're like the top pitcher in the big leagues. That's exactly what I see. As long as I continue to work hard, stay healthy, and continue to, you know, just be a good person, that's a big part of it. In the game these days, many people are, you know, not good examples of how to be. So I think that's one thing I want to be is obviously, you know, the best pitch in the league, but kind of like the guys like Mike Trout, who are the best players, but they're also good role models. Like, that's, that's what I want to be, not just the best player. You know, they look at me like. That's not who I am.”

Travis Sykora’s ascent is a testament to his relentless work ethic, resilience in the face of adversity, and commitment to his craft. As the Nationals’ top pitching prospect and one of the most highly regarded young arms in baseball, he has already overcome significant challenges to establish himself among the game’s elite.

With his unique mechanics, disciplined preparation, and unwavering humility, Sykora is not only poised to make an impact at the highest level but also to serve as a role model for the next generation of players. His journey is far from over, but all signs point to a bright future on the mound and a lasting legacy in the sport.