Janson Junk: The Optimist on the Mound
When Janson Junk received the news that he was being traded in 2021 from the New York Yankees to the Los Angeles Angels, he could not help but think of everything he had accomplished while being a part of the Yankees farm system. At the time of the trade, Junk
When Janson Junk received the news that he was being traded in 2021 from the New York Yankees to the Los Angeles Angels, he could not help but think of everything he had accomplished while being a part of the Yankees farm system. At the time of the trade, Junk was pitching for the Somerset Patriots, the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. The Federal Way, Washington native was in the midst of the best season of his career. At the time, Junk had started 12 games, pitching to an ERA of 1.78 in 65.2 innings on the mound. He struck out 68 while walking 20, securing four wins in the process.
When the deal was made, Junk experienced his first major change since becoming a professional pitcher. A player can often struggle with a change like that, but Junk had a different outlook. The right-hander stayed optimistic, focusing on the relationships he made, rather than the stress of joining a new organization. For Junk, the most important relationship was with his pitching coach Daniel Moskos, who made being traded to the Angels a “bittersweet” moment.
“I created such good relationships with the guys, and our big-league pitching coach Daniel Moskos was my Double-A pitching coach with the Yankees during that time,” said Junk. “He made a big impact with me during that year, I really leveled up my game around him, being under his guidance.”
For Junk, the 2025 offseason was uncharted territory for the 29-year-old right-hander. For the first time in his career, Junk was a free agent, and he had the opportunity to make his own decision on where he wanted to take his talents next. A lot of elements can affect a player’s decisions on where to continue his career. Money, location, and competitiveness are all common reasons, though Junk’s decision to sign with the Marlins was because of one main factor: relationships.
“It was my first free agency in my career, and I thought with the relationships I’ve had in the past with the big-league pitching coach (Moskos), bullpen coach, and minor league pitching coach, it made my decision easier,” said Junk.
Junk has pitched for six different organizations and has logged over 600 innings on the mound. He’s been traded and claimed off waivers twice and designated for assignment three times. For someone who has not cracked the age of 30, that’s a lot of transactions. A notable time when Junk changed organizations was when he was traded from the Los Angeles Angels to the Milwaukee Brewers on November 22, 2022.
Over 170 of Junk’s career innings occurred with the Nashville Sounds, Triple-A affiliate of the Brewers. He appeared in 55 games between 2023 and 2024, starting 28 of them. While he made seven appearances with the big league, Junk’s tenure ended on a sour note when he was designated for assignment on July 28, 2024 and claimed by the Houston Astros. It did not get any easier for him, as he was DFA’d again a month later and claimed by the Oakland Athletics. When something like that occurs, a player has every right to be frustrated and bitter about their situation. Putting hours or work into your craft for an organization that inevitably lets you go can make a player lose sight of what is important.
When Junk returned to Nashville for the Jumbo Shrimp’s opening weekend series against the Sounds, he wasn’t bitter about no longer being in Tennessee. He found pleasure in seeing those who he has built relationships with have success in the game of baseball.
“When I went to Nashville, it was great to see people I’ve been with, the staff and stuff so that is always fun to see them flourishing around the league,” said Junk.
At the end of the day, Junk is relatable. He was selected in the 22nd round of the 2017 draft, a round that no longer exists. He never was a top prospect when he was with the Yankees. As soon as he began to find his footing in Somerset, he was shipped off to the Angels for a pitcher who accumulated a WAR of -0.5 and had an ERA of 7.32 in the Bronx. Despite being drafted nearly a decade ago, he’s only totaled 40.0 innings in the majors. Yet through all the organizational changes, Junk has never lost sight of the people he’s bonded with along the way. Junk’s career is a reminder to filter out the negatives, build strong relationships, and stay optimistic.