Walker Janek

Walker Janek
Houston Astros
Catcher
Born: (2002-09-24) September 24, 2002 (age 24)
Portland, Texas, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Career highlights and awards

Walker Payne Janek (born September 24, 2002) is an American professional baseball catcher in the Houston Astros organization. Janek was selected as the 28th pick in the first round of the 2024 MLB draft for the Houston Astros.

Amateur career

Janek grew up in Portland, Texas and attended Gregory-Portland High School. Janek committed to play college baseball at Sam Houston State University.

Janek batted .308 with seven home runs and 33 RBI during his freshman season with the Sam Houston Bearkats. As a sophomore he hit .301 with 17 doubles, 13 home runs, and 65 RBI. Janek was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2023 Western Athletic Conference baseball tournament. After the season, Janek played summer collegiate baseball for the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League. In 2024, Janek won the Buster Posey Award. Over 58 games as a junior, he batted .364 with 17 home runs and 58 RBI.

Professional career

Janek was selected by the Houston Astros in the first round with the 28th overall pick in the 2024 Major League Baseball draft. On July 26, 2024, Janek signed with the Astros on a $3.1 million contract.

Janek was assigned to the Asheville Tourists of the High-A South Atlantic League to begin his professional career. Over 25 games, he hit .175 with one home run and 11 RBIs. He returned to Asheville for the 2025 season. Across 92 games, Janek batted .263 with 12 home runs and 46 RBI. He opened the 2026 season with the Corpus Christi Hooks. In May, he was placed on the injured list with a lower-body injury.

References

  1. ↑ Quinton Martinez (July 14, 2024). "Houston Astros draft Gregory-Portland grad Walker Janek in first round of 2024 MLB Draft". Corpus Christi Caller-Times.
  2. ↑ Martinez, Quinton (June 7, 2023). "Former Corpus Christi-area high school athletes finding college success in spring sports". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Sam Houston State announces signing classes for Baseball, Softball and Soccer". KAGSTV.com. November 11, 2020. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  4. ↑ Zielinski III, Dan (January 24, 2024). "Walker Janek develops into a draft prospect at Sam Houston". BaseballProspectJournal.com. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Janek named to Buster Posey Award Watch List". The Huntsville Item. April 19, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Digging Into MLB Draft Risers Including Bryce Rainer & Walker Janek". Baseball America. April 19, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Janek ranked among top prospects for 2024 MLB Draft". The Huntsville Item. December 14, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  8. ↑ "#26 Walker Janek - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Quiet Week Offensively Sees Falmouth End Things On Right Foot". CapeNews.net. June 29, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  10. ↑ Martinez, Quinton (June 27, 2024). "Gregory-Portland grad makes history with collegiate baseball award". Corpus Christi Caller Times. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Dueling MLB mock draft: Building 2024 prospect superteams". ESPN. July 5, 2024. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Astros nab 'best catcher in this Draft class' in Janek". MLB.com. July 15, 2024. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  13. ↑ Young, Matt. "Astros sign first-round draft pick Walker Janek from Sam Houston". houstonchronicle.com. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  14. ↑ Maurer, Doug (August 6, 2024). "Janek Debuts with a Hit, Pena Strikes Out Six". MiLB.com. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  15. ↑ McTaggart, Brian (May 31, 2025). "Astros prospect Walker Janek having success in Minors". MLB.com. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  16. ↑ "This prospect is turning heads in spring while managing challenges of diabetes". MLB.com. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Astros' Walker Janek: Lands on Double-A injured list". CBS Sports. May 5, 2026. Retrieved June 17, 2026.