Houston Astros select Sam Houston State catcher Walker Janek in 2024 MLB draft

One of the top catcher prospects in the 2024 MLB Draft is officially headed to the pros. Sam Houston State come out Walker Janek is on his way to the major leagues after being drafted by the Houston Astros.

Janek spent three years at Sam Houston State honing his craft. Although he is listed as a catcher, where he started 147 of his college games, he also played second and third base a few times, showcasing his speed and dexterity.

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Last season, Janek did it all for Sam Houston State in terms of his performance in the batter’s box. The 21-year-old right-hander from Portland, Texas finished 2024 with a .364 batting average and a 1.185 OPS in 271 plate appearances. Janek was credited with 220 at-bats in 58 games, recording 80 hits, 58 RBIs, 17 home runs and stole 13 bases. He was walked forty times last season; however, that was almost a failure considering he struck out 45 times.

What the experts say about Janek

Janek was one of this year’s top prospects heading into the 2024 MLB Draft, ranks 24th, according to MLB.comFrom what they’ve seen of the talented young catcher, he has all the tools at the plate and behind him to make an impact in the pros.

“After drawing little interest from professional teams or major college programs as a high schooler in Texas, Janek has emerged as arguably the top catcher prospect in the 2024 draft after three years at Sam Houston,” MLB.com says. “His value jumped at the 2023 Karbach Classic, where he hit 5-for-13 with a pair of doubles, intercepted a 97-mph fastball from Louisiana State’s Chase Shores and threw out a runner. He continued to impress in the Cape Cod League last summer and played his way to first-round consideration this spring while winning the Buster Posey Award as the top catcher in college baseball.”

“With impressive batting speed and good strength, Janek creates raw power that translates into average power play, with most of his home runs coming to his draw side. While he is an aggressive right-handed hitter who looks to throw balls and frequently chases pitches out of the strike zone, he shows more patience and does a better job of utilizing the entire field in 2024. While he has below-average speed, he runs better than most catchers and will steal bases if opponents don’t keep him honest.”

“The 2024 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, Janek is agile behind the plate and does a good job framing throws. He can be nonchalant with his catch, which is just average until he cleans it up. He controls the running game with his arm strength and quick release.”