Jakob Junis's Biography
Jakob Benjamin Lee Junis, a professional baseball pitcher currently playing for the Cincinnati Reds in Major League Baseball (MLB), was born on September 16, 1992. Prior to joining the Reds, he played for the Kansas City Royals, San Francisco Giants, and Milwaukee Brewers. Junis’ journey to MLB began with his selection by the Royals in the 29th round of the 2011 MLB draft. Remarkably, he had been projected as a fourth-round pick but fell down the order due to his commitment to North Carolina State University. However, Junis surprised many by signing with the Royals in lieu of attending college, favoring a $675,000 signing bonus.
Junis kick-started his professional career in 2012 with the Burlington Royals, concluding his outing of seven games with a record of 2–2. Gradually, he moved up through the ranks, recording better stats with each game and gaining recognition for his ability as a pitcher. His performances forced the Royals’ hand, and they added him to their 40-man roster after the end of the 2016 season.
Stepping into the Major Leagues in 2017, Junis quickly made an impact in his debut season, boasting an impressive 9–3 record for Kansas City. The subsequent years were characterized by fluctuating performance, but Junis consistently showcased his talent as a pitcher, invariably finishing among the top players in various statistical categories. His consistency led to him being the first pitcher to bag at least nine wins in his first three seasons, a feat last achieved by Gerrit Cole from 2013-2015.
In 2020, Junis made eight appearances for the Kansas City Royals, but his luck ran out as he was placed on the injured list twice that season. Likewise, his 2021 season was affected by injuries, limiting his appearances to sixteen and concluding with a rather disappointing ERA of 5.26. Eventually, on November 5, 2021, Junis chose free agency after being outrighted off of the 40-man roster.
The following year, he joined the San Francisco Giants with a one-year, $1.75 million deal. Despite a rocky start with the Triple–A Sacramento River Cats and the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Giants, Junis quickly settled in and made significant contributions to San Francisco’s efforts in the 2022 season.
In January 2023, Junis signed a one-year contract with the Giants, averting salary arbitration. His performance continued to improve, with Junis posting a 3.87 ERA over 40 appearances for San Francisco that year. The next chapter of his career began in 2024, as Junis became part of the Milwaukee Brewers under a mutual option contract. Unfortunately, his stint with the Brewers was marred by injury and a freak accident during batting practice that led to him being hospitalized.
By mid-2024, Junis was part of a trade that sent him, Joey Wiemer, and cash considerations to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Frankie Montas. Through his resilience and hard work, Junis continues to carve a successful career in MLB. Besides his passion for the pitch, Junis is blessed with a loving family. He and his wife, Brianne, have three beautiful children, and they call Scottsdale, Arizona, their home.
