Position: RHP
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 220 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 09/03/1997
College: University of Notre Dame
How Acquired: Draft 10th round, 304th Overall, 2019
Bonus: $125,000
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Yes
Minor League Free Agency: 2025
Options Left: 3
Overview
A big right-hander, Junker struggled with his control in his sophomore year at Notre Dame (he pitched less than an inning as a freshman), but made considerable strides as a full-time starter in his junior year. He cut his BB/9 from 6.4 to 4.1, while his ERA dropped from 8.74 to 4.19. He had a respectable strikeout rate, with 73 in 77.1 IP. Junker throws 90-95 mph with a slider that could be an average pitch. According to scouting reports, his change wasn’t good and the Pirates have used him strictly as a reliever. When the Pirates drafted him, he had an extremely long pause in his delivery, but he dropped it by 2021. Baseball America ranked him 391st among draft prospects and 6th in Indiana in a weak year for the state. He signed for slightly under the slot value of $143,900.
2019-21
Junker pitched in short relief for West Virginia and dominated. He had a 14.5 K/9 and opponents managed just a 143/233/198 line against him. Right-handed batters had a pitiful .283 OPS against him, but left-handed batters did fine, putting up a .712 figure.
After the canceled 2020 season, the Pirates sent Junker to Bradenton rather than Greensboro at the start of the season. Over 14 games, he missed a ton of bats, with a 14.1 K/9, and held opponents to a .143 average. He did have problems with walks, which kept him from totally dominating. In mid-July, the Pirates moved him up to Greensboro, but after three games he suffered an unknown injury and didn’t return.
2022-23
Junker spent most of the 2022 season at Greensboro, often serving as the closer. He had a rough time in May and June, but came around very well in the second half. From July on, including four strong late-season outings with Altoona, he had an ERA of 1.85, WHIP of 1.07 and K/9 of 11.8. The early-season scuffling can’t be blamed on the Greensboro ballpark, as he was dramatically more effective there than on the road. He also had a huge platoon split, except this was a reverse split. Left-handed hitters had only a .471 OPS against him.
In 2023, Junker pitched for Altoona and had a fairly good year. He had a 3.25 ERA, but weak walk and K rates of 4.7 and 7.0 per nine innings, respectively. He was helped by a low BABIP; his xFIP was 5.32. Junker made one appearance for Indianapolis at the end of the season.
Stats
Transactions
June 4, 2019: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 10th round, 304th overall pick; signed on June 11.