Round Rock pitcher, Texas commit Travis Sykora taken by Nationals in 2023 MLB draft

Round Rock pitcher and Texas recruit Travis Sykora was drafted No. 71 overall by the Washington Nationals on Monday.

Sykora went 7-0 this past season with 108 strikeouts and a 0.84 ERA. The 6-foot-6, 240 pound right-hander gave up only 22 hits in 58 innings and was a key component in the Dragons 31-7-1 season that led to the District 25-6A title. Round Rock eventually fell in the regional quarterfinals to Westlake, but the pitcher's impressive play earned him a spot on the American-Statesman's All-Central Texas first team.

While his velocity is the most eye-popping aspect of his game — his fastball hit 101 mph this past season — Sykora's command also impresses. His secondary pitches are a short slider and a splitter that drops right before it hits the plate.

More: Upon Further Review: With his 100 mph fastball, Round Rock's Travis Sykora on track to MLB

MLB.com projected him as a potential first-rounder and the 40th ranked player on its board, meaning Sykora slipped a bit from projections. There's a possibility that the Nationals could lose him to the college ranks, which would be a huge boost to a UT team that may lose three starting pitchers to the draft. In that case, the pitcher would be eligible to be drafted after his sophomore year in 2025.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Round Rock pitcher Travis Sykora taken by Nationals in MLB draft