Hip surgery behind him, Travis Sykora sees what's possible
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Washington Nationals prospect Travis Sykora was already one of the best pitchers in minor league baseball last year. That was, Sykora told reporters Wednesday, without being able to pitch at full throttle.
Last year, when Sykora pitched, he felt a bit of a pinch in his back hip. The 6-foot-6 right-hander compensated by altering his mechanics. His fastball only sat in the mid-90s. He and the coaching staff worked to address the issue, but it didn't feel like an injury to Sykora. As Sykora put it, 'We're not human MRI machines.' So this offseason, they took a look. He underwent hip surgery shortly thereafter.
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