The Yankees acquired left-handed pitcher Andrew Heaney minutes before the trade deadline came to a close on Friday, but they paid the price of Janson Junk, a top prospect, as well as pitching prospect Elvis Peguero. Junk was the Yankees’ No. 27 prospect prior to being traded.
25-year old Janson Junk was drafted by the Yankees in the 22nd round of the 2017 MLB draft and has done well so far in his career through his time in the Yankees’ minor league system. Since 2017 he is 16-15 combined in the minor leagues with a 3.72 ERA, one save, and 230 strikeouts over the course of 254.1 innings pitched.
Junk spent the 2021 season with Double-A Somerset where he has a 1.78 ERA and 4-1 record over the course of 14 games played and 65.2 innings pitched. He has recorded 68 strikeouts this season with Somerset. He was the No. 27 prospect on New York’s Top 30 prospects list before being traded to the Angels.
Pinstriped Prospects’ own Matt Kardos recently did an exclusive interview with Junk in which they discussed how Junk was an “under-the-radar” prospect coming into the 2021 season. That mantra seemed to change this season as Junk was named the Double-A Northeast League’s pitcher of the Month in June. Most recently after that, in the last 11 games he has pitched for Somerset, Junk had a 1.46 ERA.
Junk was a prospect took pride in working hard and he discussed with Kardos the work he put in this offseason to prepare to be the best athlete possible in 2021. Checkout the full interview with Junk on pinstripedprospects.com.
The Yankees also dealt pitching prospect Elvis Peguero to the Angels in exchange for Heaney.
Peguero, 24, has been with the Yankees organization since 2016. He has split the 2021 season between High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset. Combined between High-A and Double-A, Peguero has a 4-1 record and a 2.23 ERA. He has 57 strikeouts over the course of 44.1 innings pitched.
While Peguero isn’t a prospect many hear about, the 2021 season appeared to a be a breakout season for the 24-year old. He’ll look to keep that momentum going as he transitions with Junk to the Angels’ minor league system.
It has already been announced that Junk will join the Angels’ Double-A affiliate, the Rocket City Trash Pandas as he continues his career with a new organization.
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