Welcome to the latest edition of the Nationals Beat newsletter. This is your stop for the latest on and off the field, from news to exclusive player interviews and insights, brought to you by MLB.com club reporter Jessica Camerato. |
The Nationals will be represented by a pair of right-handers in the 2025 All-Star Futures Game. Starter Travis Sykora (Nats’ No. 1 prospect, MLB No. 30) and reliever Marquis Grissom Jr. (Nats' No. 21) were selected to play on the National League team for the Minor League showcase on July 12 at 4 p.m. ET, at Truist Park. “That's awesome, awesome,” said Nationals manager Dave Martinez. “They’re both future stars for us, they both have done well. We're looking forward to watching them pitch in the game.” This is a homecoming game for Grissom, who grew up in the Atlanta area and is the son of former outfielder (among many accomplishments) Marquis Grissom, the manager of the AL Futures Squad. “I hope he beats his dad,” Martinez said with a laugh. “I love [Grissom], he was my teammate. But I want to see one of our guys beat his own dad. It would be awesome. Hey, bragging rights.” |
Sykora, an electric hurler drafted in the third round out of Round Rock (Texas) High School, has advanced to Double-A Harrisburg since making his season debut on May 3. He is 3-1 with a 1.83 ERA in 11 starts on the year between the Florida Complex League, Single-A, High-A and Double-A.
“He's always popping up on my feed somewhere, like, this amount of K’s, this velo, all that stuff,” said Nationals No. 3 prospect (MLB No. 82) Brady House. “So I've been keeping up with him. I tell everyone that he looks great. From the videos that I've seen, he looks crazy.”
Sykora, 21, rehabbed from offseason hip labrum surgery to come back strong. From his season debut on May 3 through his promotion to the Senators last Saturday, Sykora led all Minor League pitchers in opponents’ batting average (.107), opponents’ slugging percentage (.137), WHIP (0.61), strikeouts per nine innings (15.49) and hits per nine innings (3.10).
“I see the way he goes about baseball and how serious he is,” said Daylen Lile, the Nationals’ No. 9 prospect. “I’m extremely happy for him, and I look forward to him being up here at some point pitching for us.” |
Following his first invite to Major League Spring Training, Grissom was promoted from Double-A Harrisburg to Triple-A Rochester on April 30. Grissom, 23, is 1-2 with a 5.08 ERA, six saves and 28 strikeouts across 33 2/3 innings on the season.
At the time of his selection on Monday, Grissom ranked third in the Nationals’ farm system in saves this season. He has recorded 15 saves over the past two seasons, the most by a current Nationals Minor League pitcher.
“That's my boy,” said Lile. “I'm very happy for him. Well deserved. He works hard day in, day out.” |
Grissom was a 13th-round pick in the 2022 Draft out of Georgia Tech and is an alumni of the MLB Develops program.
“I played with him in high school, too,” said House. “It was good to play with him in Triple-A this year, then see that he's going to the Futures Game. I saw what he did this year and it was good stuff. I’m super excited for him.”
The Futures Game will feature 31 players on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list. Catch it live on MLB Network or simulcast on MLB.TV, MLB.com and the MLB app. |
MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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COMBINED NO-NO IN THE DSL |
While Washington was playing Detroit on the Major League level, the Nationals’ Dominican Summer League team tossed a combined seven-inning no-hitter on Thursday against a Detroit affiliate. Right-handers Jean Robles and Manuel Ruiz silenced the DSL Tigers’ bats in a 5-0 win. Robles, 18, delivered five innings with one walk and seven strikeouts. Ruiz, 19, closed out the game with one walk and two strikeouts in two frames.
The Nationals signed Robles in the 2024 international signing class from the Dominican Republic. They signed Ruiz the following year from Venezuela.
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HOUSE LOOKS BACK ON 2 FUTURES GAMES |
House can speak to the relationship-building experience at the Futures Game first-hand. He is a two-time alumni, playing in the exhibition in 2023 and ‘24. House also participated in the inaugural Futures Skills Showcase last year.
“You get to hang around with them for at least two days, so you basically get to meet everyone from every team,” House said. “It’s nice to hang out with them and see how they go about their days.”
Over the past two years, House got an early introduction to some of the game’s rising stars before they reached the Majors.
“My first year was with Pete Crow-Armstrong,” House said. “Jackson Holliday was in that one, too. There were so many good people in it. Marcelo [Mayer] was in it. I did the challenge with Roman [Anthony] last year. So many dudes that are in the big leagues now.” |
NATS VISIT YOUTH BASEBALL ACADEMY |
Josh Bell, Alex Call, MacKenzie Gore, Ryan Loutos and Michael Soroka visited with scholar athletes enrolled in summer programming at the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy on Thursday. They participated in activities including baseball and softball drills, robotics and cooking with DC Central Kitchen. |
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• Sunday: Kids batting gloves giveaway (ages 12 and under); Story Time at Nationals Park featuring Bell’s book “What Color is the Sky;” Virginia Military Institute Day; Signature Sunday (vouchers at Section 103); Kids Run the Bases (ages 4-12) • July 14: James Wood participating in T-Mobile Home Run Derby • July 15: 2025 All-Star Game • July 18: West Virginia University Day • July 19: Nationals basketball jersey giveaway (first 20,000 fans in attendance); William & Mary Day |
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