This story was excerpted from Jessica Camerato’s Nationals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
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.”
COMPLETE NATIONALS PROSPECT COVERAGE
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.