Follow the Prospects: Travis Sykora, RHP

[JCA-CrystalCity]

holy crow. 57 K%. 2 an inning. Respectable BB%.

He's 1 month younger than Susana. If Susana is AA material, then . . .

[imref]

Is it a stretch for him to make it to the majors this year?

[IanRubbish]

Is it a stretch for him to make it to the majors this year?

Yes, he's on a low pitch count and needs to be stretched out in the high minors through at least 15-20 starts in the most optimistic scenario.   He'll also need to continue to keep the low walk rate in AA and AAA.

[Slateman]

holy crow. 57 K%. 2 an inning. Respectable BB%.

He's 1 month younger than Susana. If Susana is AA material, then . . .

If he stays healthy, he is an ace. I genuinely do not understand why Susana is ranked higher than him.

That being said, he's a month younger than Susana and already had a hip surgery. I'm okay with taking it slow.

[Slateman]

Is it a stretch for him to make it to the majors this year?

Yes. If we were a legit WC team, then maybe he would come up and throw out of the pen. But for now, just let him throw ~110 innings and then have a healthy offseason.

[Mattionals]

Yes. If we were a legit WC team, then maybe he would come up and throw out of the pen. But for now, just let him throw ~110 innings and then have a healthy offseason.

Hell even as a WC team I wouldn't want him up yet wasting bullets. Dude has something else, another level. Let him go slow. I'd be much more inclined to take on payroll and make a trade if we are in WC position.

[Smithian]

I see no reason to rush him for this team. I'd have him on a very conservative inning limit.

[welch]

Is it a stretch for him to make it to the majors this year?

A stretch. Promote Sykora to Harrisburg in July. Next year a half-season at Rochester and then to the Nats...if evrything goes well.

[imref]

He’s human: 5.0, 3H   2ER, 0BBs, 7Ks. ERA “up” to 1.38

[IanRubbish]

He’s human: 5.0, 3H   2ER, 0BBs, 7Ks. ERA “up” to 1.38

47 strikes in 62 pitches, averaging just 14.3 pitches per inning in his 3 starts in Wilmington

Guessing they're letting him recover a bit before having him go up to 70-75 pitches

If you look at where a lot of power pitching prospects in this org (Cavalli, Rutledge, Henry etc) have started throwing a lot of ball fours it's generally been at AA.   If he's this efficient at Harrisburg that'll be very encouraging.

[imref]

https://www.mlb.com/news/travis-sykora-pitching-breakdown

[blue911]

https://www.mlb.com/news/travis-sykora-pitching-breakdown

Easy gas

[Natsinpwc]

I read that.  But is the high leg kick what caused his hip problems? And isn’t there a decent chance that those problems come back if he keeps with that delivery?

[imref]

5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10K

Seems ready for AA.

[GataNats]

This kid is silly

[JCA-CrystalCity]

5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10K

Seems ready for AA.

he's older now than Susana was when they assigned him to AA

[Slateman]

I could see another start or two, just to ensure he's capable of 5+ innings. But he should be in Double A by the end of the month

[IanRubbish]

5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10K

Seems ready for AA.

Also got stretched out to 79 pitches.  Very encouraging.

[Smithian]

I'd like him to finish the month in A+ and get to double digit starts. If at that point A+ hitters aren't putting some quality swings on him, then time to move him up. But even if he dominates AA, I don't think there is any reason to move him again. Three levels is a lot in a season.

[Slateman]

I'd like him to finish the month in A+ and get to double digit starts. If at that point A+ hitters aren't putting some quality swings on him, then time to move him up. But even if he dominates AA, I don't think there is any reason to move him again. Three levels is a lot in a season.

I could live with putting him in Triple A the last couple weeks of the season. He starts there next year and gets called up after whatever team control deadlines are met.

[IanRubbish]

I could live with putting him in Triple A the last couple weeks of the season. He starts there next year and gets called up after whatever team control deadlines are met.

If he continues to pitch well and stays healthy, he's a strong candidate for next year's "are they waiting for Super 2" discussion.

[imref]

If he continues to pitch well and stays healthy, he's a strong candidate for next year's "are they waiting for Super 2" discussion.

another month of these kinds of starts and he's going be in the discussion for a call-up "this" year.

[IanRubbish]

another month of these kinds of starts and he's going be in the discussion for a call-up "this" year.

He needs to have a lot more starts of at least 75 pitches even in the most ideal scenario.  Moreover, even though he's not Boras, not sure it makes sense to burn a full year of service time for next season, I'd at least keep him in AAA for free agency service time rules even if he came up before Super 2 in '26.

One more start like this last one, and with at least 70 pitches, and I'd say it's time for AA.

[IanRubbish]

If Sykora's smart, he'll ask for a trade.  Why would anyone who can throw hard AND throw strikes want to be a part of this train wreck?