Sam Houston’s Walker Janek was selected 28th overall by the Houston Astros

Sam Houston C Walker Janek

Height: 6 feet 0 inches

Weight: 190 pounds

Bats: R

Throws: R

Statistics 2024: .368/.480/.714, 15 2B, 17 HR, 58 RBI

For just the third time in program history, the Sam Houston baseball team has a player selected in the first round of the MLB draft.

Star receiver Walker Janek is coming off a stellar junior campaign where he was named the Buster Posey Receiver of the Year and, thanks to his cannon arm, earned CUSA Defensive Player of the Year honors.

He won’t be straying too far from Huntsville anymore, as the Houston Astros selected Janek in the first round with the 28th overall pick in the 2024 draft.

The 28th overall pick comes with a value of $3,132,500.

The Bearkats are gradually becoming a major league feeder again under coach Jay Sirianni, who took over the program in 2019. Sam Houston produced its highest draft pick ever in 2021, with outfielder Colton Cowser taken No. 5 overall by the Baltimore Orioles.

Before Cowser was selected in the first round, the Bearkats had only three top-60 picks in program history. Last year, Sam Houston saw outfielder Joe Redfield selected 111th overall by the Los Angeles Angels, the eighth-highest selection in program history. He is now playing High-A baseball.

The former Bearkats have been doing quite well in breaking into the pros lately and Janek has a chance to contribute to the team’s growing story.