RADIO
Jakob Junis Is A Risky Bet
7 years agoJakob Junis quickly became a fan favorite in Kansas City after tossing an eight-inning gem in early August of 2017. The affair was the highlight of his season, and it came in the midst of a stretch of six straight wins for Junis. He’d finish the season with a stellar 9-3 record that has left many Royals fans excited about his future with the team. They should probably temper that excitement. Junis isn’t a bad pitcher, but he’s also not that good. 12 days after the aforementioned gem, he got rocked for four earned in 2 and 1/3 innings. He’s only 25 years old, and he packs a two-pitch arsenal that really is just a good slider and a mediocre fastball/sinker that is nothing more than a setup pitch for his slider. His slider is good enough to get him through outings, but his fastball is very hittable, so he has to have pinpoint control with it to avoid giving up hard hit balls. Currently penciled in as the team’s fourth or fifth starter, Junis has the potential to turn into a decent middle of the rotation piece who could have flashes of greatness when he’s really on top of his fastball. He’ll also likely get smacked around enough that he’s not someone owners will want to depend on regularly. Expect another year of a 4.50 ERA and 1.30 WHIP.
