While the Washington Nationals are now winners of their last 3 games, including a wild one last night where they struck out a whopping 19 times in a single game as a team, the organization was dealt some brutal news. Thee number one prospect in the organization and 24th-ranked player in the minor leagues, Travis Sykora, requires Tommy John Surgery and will miss the remainder of the 2025 season. This injury stunts the rapid development of the 21-year-old right-handed pitcher who posted a 2.14 ERA through his first 130.1 minor league innings, according to MLB.com.
Sykora was removed from his start on July 5th after one inning due to right tricep tightness. The Nats downplayed the injury, saying the plan was to shut Sykora down for two to three weeks before resuming a throwing program. Now, on July 28th, it was announced that the right-hander needs Tommy John surgery to repair a torn UCL in his right elbow. It was hoped that Sykora would make his Major League debut in the 2026 season, but that will now be spent rehabbing from elbow surgery.
It cannot be overstated the impact of Sykora's injury on the Nationals organization. The Nats aren't in the position to take any hits to their developmental program, as the big right-hander was the highlight of the minor league system. Sykora looked the part of an ace through his short time in the minors and could have made an impact in the big leagues next season. Now, he may not have the chance to make a difference until 2027.
Sykora had dominated in 2025, with a 1.79 ERA and 0.77 WHIP across multiple levels, and had most recently earned a promotion to AA Harrisburg, where he was only able to make 2 starts before being shut down. Since being taken with the 71st pick back in 2023, Sykora has been a steady riser and was being looked at as one of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball with his dominance.
For the Nationals, the organization continues to be dealt a bad hand when it comes to the arm health of their pitchers. Between guys like Cole Henry, Cade Cavalli, Josiah Gray, DJ Herz, Derek Law, Trevor Williams, and now Sykora, the Nationals have dealt with a plethora of devastating arm injuries over the last few years. While all of these players are at various stages in their comeback attempts to the big league mound, all of them have had their careers altered pretty drastically, and hopefully for Sykora this setback won't hinder his development too much.
Nationals’ top pitching prospect Travis Sykora needs Tommy John surgery, the team just revealed. Big blow for a guy who possibly was poised to reach the majors sometime in 2026.
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) July 28, 2025
The injury to Sykora moves all the focus to the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline. How does interim GM Mike DeBartolo make the Washington Nationals better from an organizational standpoint? Does trading MacKenzie Gore make the Nats better in the long run? With Sykora's injury in mind, the timeline for success in Washington could've taken a step backward. Please let us know the type of impact Syroka's injury has on the organization.