Sykora aiming to channel hero Ryan's advice in 1st pro season

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Travis Sykora knocked on the door. He knew who was on the other side, and as much as he wanted to run right in, this entrance was monumental.

It’s not every day Nolan Ryan is there to talk to you.

“It’s pretty surreal,” said Sykora, who is ranked as the Nationals’ No. 11 prospect by MLB Pipeline.

Before Sykora, 19, became a third-round Draft pick of the Nationals last year, he was a lifelong fan of Ryan. A 6-foot-6 right-hander from Round Rock (Texas) High School, Sykora grew up admiring the Hall of Famer.

“I’m pretty tall and long, elbows and knees flying everywhere, so that makes [my delivery] a little unique,” Sykora said. “I actually kind of copied that from Nolan Ryan because as a kid he was my favorite -- he still is my favorite player of all time. He had one of those deliveries with a big leg kick and kind of unique, so I try to be like him and be different.”

Shortly before he departed to Florida for his first Spring Training, Sykora was on the receiving end of a major connection in January. His brother went to high school with the president of Triple-A Round Rock’s son, and a special meeting was set up for Sykora to meet his idol at the Rangers affiliate’s stadium.

“We asked if we could go in, and just hearing his voice, it was weird because you hear his voice on TV all the time, and then to hear it in person, and then not only hear him talk but have a conversation and kind of learn what's in his brain and what made him so good, that was weird,” Sykora said. “... I was proud to meet him.”

Studying Ryan’s illustrious career -- including incorporating the high leg kick -- Sykora became a standout in high school and shined at the PDP League and Area Code Games. He was ranked as the No. 40 prospect in the 2023 Draft and signed with the Nats for $2.6 million. When Sykora had the rare opportunity to glean advice from his inspiration, he soaked up every word.

“What he talked about was instead of trying to limit the amount of throwing you do, learning to be comfortable with throwing a lot -- not pitching a lot, but throwing a lot -- between your starts, building up your arm for that workload that you're going to have to go through,” Sykora recounted. “That way, your arm is used to what you're going to do in the game.”

Sykora was one of 10 pitchers selected to the Nationals’ Spring Breakout roster on Thursday before the club's 3-1 loss to the Mets at Clover Park. The game will offer a glimpse into his repertoire, which includes a fastball that has reached 101 mph (usually sits around 95-98 mph) and a splitter in the mid-80s that is considered to have the potential of a plus pitch. Sykora has been working on consistency with his slider as well as a slide step.

“The biggest thing for me is probably just working hard,” Sykora said. “That's what I try to do is just outwork everybody. When I step on the mound, it's time to compete, and I'm a huge competitor.”

This season, Sykora is poised to compete as a member of a Nationals affiliate for the first time. In addition to the goal of dominating on the mound, he also is focusing on staying healthy and developing a routine to prepare for the duration of a full season in the pros. MLB Pipeline estimates his Major League debut in 2027.

“Joining an affiliate, out of everything right now, that’s probably what I’m most excited about,” Sykora said. “I can’t wait for that day, just because growing up in Round Rock, you go to Minor League games over there at the Triple-A stadium all the time. To be one of those guys would be pretty special. I think the first game I pitch, it’ll be surreal, but I can’t wait for that.”