All eyes turn to hurlers Sykora, Susana in Nats camp
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Last year in Spring Training, Nationals manager Dave Martinez named the section of young hitting prospects in big league camp led by James Wood and Dylan Crews "Hope Row." While Robert Hassell III and Brady House are still prospects, Wood has graduated and Crews will
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Last year in Spring Training, Nationals manager Dave Martinez named the section of young hitting prospects in big league camp led by James Wood and Dylan Crews "Hope Row." While Robert Hassell III and Brady House are still prospects, Wood has graduated and Crews will come off prospect lists in the early stages of the 2025 season, so it might be time for the Nationals to hold a naming contest for the next wave of baby Nats.
Only this time, it might be arms.
Once Crews does graduate, the top two prospects on the Nationals' Top 30 will not just be pitchers. They'll be two huge (6-foot-6 huge) right-handers who hit triple digits with their fastballs in Travis Sykora and Jarlin Susana. The duo finished second and third in the Minors among those with at least 80 innings pitched in K/9 rate. Sykora, the Nats' third-round pick in 2023 who got $2.6 million to sign, finished second among all those pitchers' xFIP as well in his first full season of A ball. Susana, acquired from the Padres in the 2022 Juan Soto blockbuster, topped 100 innings for the first time and got sharper as his year went on. The organization clearly has something cooking on the pitching development side of the ledger right now.
"The big thing is in between starts, the preparation, their bullpen days after their start, focusing on what went right, what went wrong, kind of a tuneup for that next start," Nationals farm director Eddie Longosz said.
Sykora's preparation is already reaching legendary status as he's long been fastidious about journaling and learning about his craft. The Nats' player development staff is trying to make sure all of the organization's arms are on the same level, even if each hurler does things a little differently.
"It's teaching them the same type of purpose," Longosz said. "That was the big thing with Susana especially, those in-between starts looking at counts where he threw pitches or when he got behind, what was his strategy going into that. And the pitching coaches did a really excellent job harnessing that on those off days. It's all about preparation for all these guys."
That also includes relative newcomer Alex Clemmey, now No. 6 on the club's Top 30. The Nationals got the left-hander from the Guardians in the Lane Thomas deal at last year's Trade Deadline, and like the other two, he misses a ton of bats. There's lots of room for improvement in terms of his ability to throw strikes, getting ahead early and not running deep counts, but there were some early signs of encouragement at the start of his first Spring Training with his new club.
He certainly fit right in immediately when he got to Single-A Fredericksburg. As another high school arm from the 2023 Draft, he and Sykora fell in sync with each other almost immediately.
"A lot of them know each other from the high school circuits and growing up and doing all the travel ball," Longosz said. "But the second Clemmey got in there, they were like two peas in a pod, inseparable. I think they feed off each other. They can rag and tease each other, but they are also learning from each other. That's huge, them being the same age, coming up together, going through everything together."
📩 SUBSCRIBE TO THE BASEBALL TRAVELER NEWSLETTER
Camp standout: Brad Lord
Not everyone in this next wave of pitching -- "Hurler Hall?" -- was an early-round pick or a big trade acquisition. Lord joined the Nationals in 2022 as a senior taken in the 18th round of the Draft. He likely didn't set off any prospect alarms with his first full season across two levels of A-ball in 2023 other than his ability to fill up the strike zone.
Then came his breakout in 2024, splitting nearly all of the season between the top two levels of the Minors, making 25 starts and amassing nearly 130 very effective innings. Now he's the No. 23 prospect in the system and has been making a good impression in big league camp, allowing just one earned run (two total) in 7 1/3 relief innings. It's a small sample in shorter stints, but his velocity has taken a nice step forward, from averaging around 92-93 mph in 2024 to sitting 95-96 in Grapefruit League action.
"He's a strike machine, gets ahead with a four-seamer and two-seamer," Longosz said. "The secondaries are good but he just fools with the fastball. He can sink it, he can run it. He was a great starter last year. He came out of nowhere."
Breakout candidate: Yoel Tejeda
Speaking of late-round college arms who could join that crop of pitching moving up -- "Velocity Rising?" -- keep an eye on Tejeda, their pick in Round 14 of last year's Draft, who got a bit over slot ($225,000) as a Draft-eligible sophomore out of Florida State. He actually started at rival Florida as a freshman, then moved to the Seminoles for the 2024 season, and he didn't pitch frequently, or well, at either. But he's 6-foot-8 with some big stuff, an arm without a ton of mileage or reps (42 1/3 IP in college total). Perhaps he's a bit of a lottery ticket, but the Nationals like the numbers they've drawn.
"He's a big guy with a tough angle," Longosz said. "There's velocity, deception and movement. It's an ugly at-bat, a tough look for a hitter. We're curious how he progresses.
"We want him to start; the stuff is too good to not try it out first. You want to give him the best chance to start before changing it. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work."
Something to prove: Armando Cruz
When the 2020-21 international signing period finally opened in January 2021, the Nationals went all in to sign Cruz for $3.9 million, which at the time was tied for the largest bonus given on the international market by the organization. Outside of some signs of life offensively when he made his U.S. debut in 2022, he's yet to gain any traction with the bat. He spent parts of three seasons with Single-A Fredericksburg and brings a career .572 OPS into the 2025 season.
It should be noted that he will be just 21 for all of the upcoming season and he has a relatively high floor because he can really defend up the middle, so it's not like this is some kind of make or break year for the infielder. This spring there have been a few glimmers of hope.
"He looks stronger," said Longosz, who thought Cruz will likely begin the year with High-A Wilmington, where he finished the 2024 season, while playing both shortstop and second. "I think he's really locked in on his swing and controlling the zone, not chasing, working on the heart of the zone. I think this is a year it will click."
Jonathan Mayo is a reporter for MLBPipeline.com. Follow him on Facebook and @JonathanMayo, and listen to him on the weekly MLB Pipeline Podcast.
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes Welcome New Owner, Diamond Baseball Holdings
Front Office Staff Remains in Place Under Existing Club Leadership RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIF. (December 12, 2024) – The owners of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes announced today they have entered into an agreement to sell the team to Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH), an organization that owns and operates select minor league
Quakes Finish 2024 Season with Loss to Rawhide
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The 2024 came to an end on Sunday afternoon, as the playoff-bound Visalia Rawhide defeated the Quakes at LoanMart Field by a final of 6-2. Visalia jumped to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning against Rancho starter Eriq Swan (0-1) and cruised to the
Gutierrez, Decker Dazzle in Rancho Win
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – One night after being eliminated from playoff contention, the Quakes staged a late rally and beat the Visalia Rawhide, winning on Saturday night by a final of 6-4 at LoanMart Field. Cameron Decker blasted a three-run homer (12) in the first, then broke a 4-4 tie
Quakes Eliminated by Rawhide
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The Visalia Rawhide eliminated the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes from playoff contention on Friday night at LoanMart Field, taking a convincing 7-0 victory. The win for the Rawhide secures the final playoff spot, as they’ll be the #2 seed and host the Lake Elsinore Storm next Tuesday
Decker Keeps Quakes Alive with Walk-Off
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – Cameron Decker’s walk-off blast in the ninth made Friday’s game meaningful, as the Quakes outlasted the Visalia Rawhide on Thursday night by a final of 8-6 at LoanMart Field. After blowing a three-run lead in the ninth, Rancho, which didn’t have a hit since the third,
Quakes Fall, Now in Must-Win Mode
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The Visalia Rawhide have pushed the Quakes to elimination, after Wednesday’s 5-1 loss at LoanMart Field. Now with four games to play in the regular season, the Quakes must beat the Rawhide in all four remaining games in order to qualify for the playoffs. A four-run
Quakes Very Much Alive After Shutout of Visalia
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes strengthened their playoff hopes on Tuesday night, as they shut out the Visalia Rawhide by a final of 2-0 at LoanMart Field. Needing five of six in the series in order to gain a playoff berth, the Quakes pitched one of their
Quakes Fall Sunday, Need Five of Six Next Week
San Jose, CA – The San Jose Giants took the final game of the six-game series on Sunday afternoon, grabbing a 5-2 win over the Quakes at Excite Ballpark. Cesar Quintas, who made a pair of diving catches in center field, had two hits, including a two-run homer (12) as
Quakes Smash Two Bombs for Third Straight "W"!
San Jose, CA – Zyhir Hope and Cameron Decker both slugged home runs and the Quakes won their third straight game over the Giants, taking a 6-4 victory at Excite Ballpark on Saturday evening. Hope’s two-run homer (9) put Rancho up early in the first, while Decker’s three-run shot gave
Quakes Win Second Straight in San Jose
San Jose, CA – The Quakes scored three runs in the ninth and held on for an exciting 6-4 win over the San Jose Giants on Friday night at Excite Ballpark. Cameron Decker’s RBI single tied the game and Samuel Munoz capped the inning with an RBI single to give
Quakes Explode for Big Win In San Jose
San Jose, CA – A seven-run explosion in the sixth inning helped Rancho end a five-game losing streak, as the Quakes pummeled the San Jose Giants on Thursday night by a final of 9-1 at Excite Ballpark. Elijah Hainline had two hits and two RBIs and Cameron Decker hit a
Giants Drop Quakes on Wednesday
San Jose, CA – The Quakes dropped their fifth straight on Wednesday afternoon, as the Giants took a 9-5 win at Excite Ballpark. A five-run sixth put San Jose ahead for good, as the Quakes dropped their second straight to open the six-game series and their tenth in their last
Late Loss for Rancho on Tuesday
San Jose, CA – Ty Hanchey’s tie-breaking homer in the eighth sent the San Jose Giants to the lead for good, as they defeated the Quakes on Tuesday night at Excite Ballpark by a final of 7-5. After the Quakes tied the game at 5-5 with Carlos Rojas’ second two-run
Storm Prevail on Sunday Over Quakes
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The Lake Elsinore Storm concluded a successful trip to LoanMart Field with an 8-3 win over the Quakes on Sunday evening, giving the first-place Storm five of six in the series. Rancho, which has lost eight of nine overall, is still just two games out of
Quakes Drop Series to Storm
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The Lake Elsinore Storm got out to a big lead, then held on for an 8-5 win over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Saturday night at LoanMart Field. The loss leaves the Quakes two games back of the Storm, but just one out of a playoff
Rancho Gets Blanked on Friday
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The Quakes dropped a heart-breaker on Friday night in front of more than 3,500 fans at LoanMart Field, as the Lake Elsinore Storm took game four of the series with a 1-0 win. A first-inning run for the Storm was all of the scoring on Friday
Quakes Back in Gear, Blow Out Storm
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The Quakes ended their five-game losing streak on Thursday night, using a six-run seventh to fuel a 9-2 win over the Lake Elsinore Storm at LoanMart Field. Zyhir Hope went 3-for-3 and reached base five times, capping his night with an eighth-inning homer to help halt
Storm Rally Late to Drop Quakes
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The Lake Elsinore Storm rallied from three different deficits, scoring twice in the ninth inning to take a 7-5 win over the Quakes on Wednesday night at LoanMart Field. A two-run ninth against reliever Noah Ruen (3-2) gave the Storm their first lead of the game,
Rancho Drops Fourth Straight
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – Despite battling back from a five-run deficit, the Quakes dropped a 7-6 decision to the Lake Elsinore Storm in 11 innings on Tuesday night at LoanMart Field. Rancho’s fourth straight loss overall forces a three-way tie at the top of the South Division standings between the
Tie at the Top, as Quakes Fall on Sunday
Visalia, CA – The Quakes dropped their third straight game on Sunday afternoon, as the Visalia Rawhide pulled into a first-place tie with an 8-1 win at Valley Strong Ballpark. A six-run seventh broke open a one-run game, giving Visalia their third straight win over Rancho and four of six
Lead Trimmed to One After Loss
Visalia, CA – A ninth-inning rally fell short on Saturday night, as the Quakes dropped a 4-3 decision to the Visalia Rawhide at Valley Strong Ballpark. The win for Visalia gives the Rawhide two straight and three of five in the series, as they’ve trimmed Rancho’s lead in the second-half
Quakes Fall on Friday to Rawhide
Visalia, CA – The Visalia Rawhide broke a seventh-inning tie, scoring three times to take the lead for good in a 6-3 win over the Quakes on Friday night at Valley Strong Ballpark. Four walks and a two-run double off the bat of Angel Ortiz was the difference in the
Quakes Hang On for Win Over 'Hide
Visalia, CA – The Quakes held on for a 6-3 win on Thursday night at Valley Strong Ballpark, beating the Visalia Rawhide to take a three-game lead in the South Division with just 21 games to play. Samuel Munoz had a three-run homer (4) and Jose Meza had a two-run
Rawhide Down Quakes on Wednesday
Visalia, CA – The Quakes had a tough night on Wednesday, enduring a 9-3 loss to the Rawhide at Valley Strong Ballpark. Rancho committed a season-worst five errors and trailed throughout, as the Rawhide pulled to within two games with 22 to play in the second half. Quakes’ reliever Pedro
Quakes Drop Three Bombs in Visalia!
Visalia, CA – The Quakes slugged three homers and held on for a 5-2 win over the Visalia Rawhide, as they opened a critical six-game series at Valley Strong Ballpark on Tuesday night. Zyhir Hope (7), Cameron Decker (7) and Jose Meza (7) all went yard, helping the Quakes extend