Bees Pitcher Janson Junk Gets Called Up By Los Angeles Angels

SALT LAKE CITY – From Salt Lake to Los Angeles, the Angels have bolstered their pitching staff, calling up starting pitcher Janson Junk from the Bees.

The Angels announced the move prior to their game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday, May 28.

#Angels Transactions:
•Recalled RHP Janson Junk from Triple-A Salt Lake
•Placed INF Anthony Rendon on injured list (right wrist inflammation)

— Angels PR (@LAAngelsPR) May 28, 2022

A 22-round pick by the New York Yankees in 2017, Junk was acquired by the Angels, along with reliever Elvis Peguero, at last season’s trade deadline in a deal that sent Andrew Heaney to the Yankees.

Junk entered the 2022 season rated as the Angels 10th best prospect according to MLB.com after making his major league debut in 2021.

As a September call-up, Junk made four up and down starts for the Angels to close out the season. Never lasting more than 4.1 innings, Junk’s best start came in Chicago against the White Sox when he limited the South Siders to three hits and a single earned run while striking out two batters.

Janson Junk, Wicked 81mph Slider. 🤢 pic.twitter.com/uiL1cNBG6A

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 16, 2021

All told, Junk threw 16.1 innings for the Halos. He finished with a 3.86 earned run average, striking out ten batters while giving up more than a hit per inning and allowing five home runs.

After being assigned to Triple-A out of spring training, Junk made two starts for the Bees before being placed on the Development List. He would end up going nearly three weeks between starts, returning to the Bees and taking the mound against the Tacoma Rainiers on May 7.

In his most recent start, Junk allowed three runs while scattering six hits in 6.2 innings against Albuquerque, his longest outing of the season.

Across five starts in 2022, Junk is 0-2 with a 4.94 earned run average. In 23.2 total innings he has 18 strikeouts against five walks while limiting opponents to a .255 batting average against.

On Deck

The Bees are in Sacramento where they have two games remaining against the San Francisco Giants affiliate Sacramento River Cats. After dropping the opening game of the series, Salt Lake has won three straight while outscoring the River Cats by a combined score of 22-8.

Salt Lake currently leads the Pacific Coast League West division with a 26-20 record. The Las Vegas Aviators sit one game behind the Bees at 25-21.

All Bees games can be heard on The Zone Sports Network with the voice of the Bees, Steve Klauke on the call.

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