Prospecting: Walker Janek
Catching prospect vaults up draft boards and prospect rankings
Walker Janek has come a long way since being a lightly regarded high schooler in Portland, Texas.
Three seasons later he was a coveted catching prospect after a junior season at Sam Houston State that saw him slash .364/.476/.709 with 17 home runs and 58 RBI in 220 at-bats while throwing out runners at a high clip.
The Rangers reportedly coveted Janek at No. 30 overall, but the Astros nabbed him two picks before Texas got the chance.
Janek reported straight to A+ Asheville, where he got in 25 games and hit .175/.214/.289 with a home run and 11 RBI in 97 at-bats.
He struck out 30 times in 103 plate appearances while walking only 4 times.
The acquisition of Cam Smith in the Kyle Tucker trade means Janek drops to third in the Astros prospect rankings, behind Smith and Jacob Melton.
The scouting report for Janek shows an aggressive right-handed bat with pull-side power, but also one that tends to chase, as the strikeout totals indicate.
The 6’0, 190-pound Janek was Conference USA's 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, and is a good framer, but can get lazy, something that will need to be addressed as he matures as a pro.
Janek’s highest-rated skill is his arm, which comes in at 60 (above average) rating.
There’s quite a way to go before Janek is MLB-ready, but his positioning as the Astros No. 3 prospect so quickly speaks to his potential.
The scouting report lists Janek’s ETA as 2027.
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