Zach Brzykcy

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Washington Nationals #20 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/Very High
  
  Track Record: As a rising junior, Brzykcy was named the Cape Cod League reliever of the year. He tried to use that momentum throughout his senior season at Virginia Tech, but he struggled in seven appearances before the pandemic shutdown in 2020. He signed with the Nationals as a nondrafted free agent for $20,000. Brzykcy broke out in 2022, jumping three levels and ending the year in Triple-A. He pitched to a 8-2 record with 14 saves, owning just a 1.76 ERA in 51 appearances out of the bullpen. The righthander was well on his way to earning a spot in the 2023 Nationals’ bullpen before having Tommy John surgery in April. He missed the entire season.
  
  Scouting Report: Brzykcy’s go-to pitch is an explosive fastball with excellent carry. The pitch sits 95-98 mph and is effective at getting hitters out. Prior to the injury, the righthander released the ball at a higher angle, which allowed him to attack the top of the zone. Rounding out his arsenal is an above-average curveball and a split-changeup that has some sink to it. Brzykcy isn’t afraid to use his secondary pitches and has the makeup of a big league reliever.
  
  The Future: Brzykcy is expected to return during the 2024 campaign. The Nationals view him as a key member of their future bullpen and shielded him from Rule 5 eligibility by adding him to the 40-man roster in November. As long as he can return to form after his injury, expect to see him in Washington soon.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50
• 
  Ranked Washington Nationals #21 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Brzykcy was named the Cape Cod League reliever of the year in 2019 as a rising junior. It was a small sample compared to his body of work in the Atlantic Coast Conference at Virginia Tech, and he went undrafted during the pandemic-shortened five-round draft in 2020. Brzykey signed with the Nationals for $20,000 as a nondrafted free agent and has been dominant out of the bullpen. The reliever started the 2022 season at High-A but after 17 games was promoted to Double-A. He showed electric stuff and improved command--enough to jump three levels and end the year with Triple-A Rochester for two games.
  
  Scouting Report: Brzykcy attacks the zone and uses his power fastball to get hitters out. His fastball sits in the 95-98 mph range. It has explosive life and excellent carry, by way of more than 22 inches of induced vertical break. He's not afraid to use his secondary pitches either. His curveball is just a tick above-average in the mid 80s, but it has a nice 11-to-5 shape and generated whiffs at a 33% rate. His repertoire is rounded out with a split-changeup that has some sink and sits in the high 80s.
  
  The Future: Brzykcy has the makeup of a big league reliever, potentially someone who can pitch late innings. He isn't afraid to go after hitters and his command has significantly improved. He will likely start the season at Triple-A, but his MLB debut is imminent.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 45. Control: 45

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #270 prospect in 2020 draft
  A 6-foot-2, 215-pound reliever, Brzykcy has stuff that fits among the top three rounds with a fastball in the 96-98 mph range that can touch 100 and a plus slider. What has always held him back with Virginia Tech—and what scouts are concerned about in the future—is his control. While Brzykcy has struck out 13.9 batters per nine over his collegiate career, his walk rate is almost as high, at 10.5 per nine. Because of his control issues, Brzykcy’s innings have been limited. He threw 5.2 innings as a freshman, a career-high 23.1 as a sophomore and just six this spring before the novel coronavirus ended the 2020 season. When Brzykcy has everything together and is finding the zone, he’s close to unhittable. His summer in the Cape Cod League is good evidence for that. In 10 innings, he dominated hitters, posting a 1.80 ERA and allowing just four hits while striking out 14 and walking only one. Teams will be skeptical of that 10-inning sample when compared with his ACC performance, and it could cause him to fall or go undrafted in the shortened 2020 draft.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Brzykcy was named the Cape Cod League reliever of the year in 2019 as a rising junior. It was a small sample compared to his body of work in the Atlantic Coast Conference at Virginia Tech, and he went undrafted during the pandemic-shortened five-round draft in 2020. Brzykey signed with the Nationals for $20,000 as a nondrafted free agent and has been dominant out of the bullpen. The reliever started the 2022 season at High-A but after 17 games was promoted to Double-A. He showed electric stuff and improved command--enough to jump three levels and end the year with Triple-A Rochester for two games.
  
  Scouting Report: Brzykcy attacks the zone and uses his power fastball to get hitters out. His fastball sits in the 95-98 mph range. It has explosive life and excellent carry, by way of more than 22 inches of induced vertical break. He's not afraid to use his secondary pitches either. His curveball is just a tick above-average in the mid 80s, but it has a nice 11-to-5 shape and generated whiffs at a 33% rate. His repertoire is rounded out with a split-changeup that has some sink and sits in the high 80s.
  
  The Future: Brzykcy has the makeup of a big league reliever, potentially someone who can pitch late innings. He isn't afraid to go after hitters and his command has significantly improved. He will likely start the season at Triple-A, but his MLB debut is imminent.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 45. Control: 45
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Brzykcy was named the Cape Cod League reliever of the year in 2019 as a rising junior. It was a small sample compared to his body of work in the Atlantic Coast Conference at Virginia Tech, and he went undrafted during the pandemic-shortened five-round draft in 2020. Brzykey signed with the Nationals for $20,000 as a nondrafted free agent and has been dominant out of the bullpen. The reliever started the 2022 season at High-A but after 17 games was promoted to Double-A. He showed electric stuff and improved command--enough to jump three levels and end the year with Triple-A Rochester for two games.
  
  Scouting Report: Brzykcy attacks the zone and uses his power fastball to get hitters out. His fastball sits in the 95-98 mph range. It has explosive life and excellent carry, by way of more than 22 inches of induced vertical break. He's not afraid to use his secondary pitches either. His curveball is just a tick above-average in the mid 80s, but it has a nice 11-to-5 shape and generated whiffs at a 33% rate. His repertoire is rounded out with a split-changeup that has some sink and sits in the high 80s.
  
  The Future: Brzykcy has the makeup of a big league reliever, potentially someone who can pitch late innings. He isn't afraid to go after hitters and his command has significantly improved. He will likely start the season at Triple-A, but his MLB debut is imminent.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 45. Control: 45