Completing his high school career ranked amongst the top high school baseball players in the nation, it was no surprise to see Illinois’s Jake Junis in the 2011 MLB draft.
At 6’3” and 215lbs, the Rock Island native is dominant from the mound.
“Jake is one of those pitchers whose ball explodes on hitters. He throws with ease which makes his fastball (touches 94 mph) even more effective. What sets Jake apart at his age is his changeup. He shows very good arm action and movement which makes his change a plus pitch. He has a very bright future on the mound with the potential to be a front end starter,” explains USSSA High School Varsity National Team coach, DJ Wabick.
Junis gave up his scholarship at NC State in order to sign for $675,000.00 with the Kansas City Royals. A decision, I’m sure, that many others would also make.
USSSA’s scouting partner, Amateur Baseball Report, recently had time to catch up with Jake Junis. He did after all, make a name for himself at a few different scouted events. Junis was named a 2009 USSSA 1st Team All-American, 2009 USSSA World Championship team member, and a member of the 2010 USSSA High School Varsity National Team (Osaka, Japan)
Q: Being part of the original All-American Games program, what kind of advice do you have for young players that are currently in the program and striving to be where you are today?
A: The events ABR and USSSA put on are for you and to get you exposed to get you on to the next level of your baseball career. So my advice would be to attend these events and go out and do your best to impress the scouts that are there to watch you. It is a great opportunity so why not take advantage of what these programs have to offer?
Q: How did these programs help your baseball career?
A: ABR provided me with showcases and USSSA provided me tournaments to play in to further better myself as a player and a person because I met a lot of friends at the events that they put on.
Q: You traveled abroad to Japan with the very first ABR/USSSA National team, what was that experience like?
A: The trip to Japan was a great experience. We got to see what Japanese culture was like from eating their food (which wasn’t very good) and traveling to different parts of Japan playing games. They play a different style of baseball over there and it was cool to sit back and watch some of the things they did. I actually took some things I saw from them and put it towards my game trying to make myself a better player. They are very fundamental and I really liked that about the Japanese. They also respect the game to the fullest.
Q: You were a two sport all-state selection in the state of Illinois starting your freshman year of high school, what made you choose baseball over basketball?
A: My freshman year I tried the AAU basketball thing and it was a bad experience. I was in a bad organization that was in it for all the wrong reasons and it pushed me away from summer basketball. I had been playing summer baseball since I was ten years old and it was great. The coaches and teams I was on were top notch and overall just a lot better experience so I decided summer baseball over summer basketball and it worked out for me well. I still love basketball don’t get me wrong, but my future was baseball.
Q: What made you choose North Carolina State?
A: North Carolina State was an easy choice for me. ACC baseball is as good as it gets and they wanted me to pitch and play the infield, whereas TCU only wanted me to pitch. I had a great visit there and really like the area of Raleigh, the campus, and the facilities they had to offer. Also the biggest factor for me was the coaches they were great and I still hold a relationship with them to this day. I’m truly proud to say that NC State is my school.
Q: You were a draft selection by the Kansas City Royals, what was your reaction when you found out and what was the biggest factor in choosing to sign a contract with the Royals?
A: It was a great feeling getting drafted, only a group of guys have that honor and I am blessed to get the opportunity to get drafted and fulfill my dreams of playing major league baseball for a living. The biggest factor in choosing to sign was the opportunity. I was getting the chance now out of high school and you never know what could happen in 3 years at college and if you would get another shot at it. I took the opportunity and didn’t look back.
Q: What was the process like dealing with scouts and the post-draft negotiations?
A: The whole draft process was very stressful not only on me, but on my family as well. It was such a life changing decision that was taking its toll on everybody around me, as well as me. Me and my family took our time and weighed all of our options and ultimately made the best decision for me a lot like the college decision of going to NC State.
Q: AAC baseball is extremely competitive. How tough of a decision was it to pass up a chance to play in a conference like that and the possibility of playing in the College World Series?
A: Seeing my good friend and neighbor Seth Blair playing in the college World Series twice for Arizona State University made me dream of playing there in Omaha and truly believing it could really happen. It was really tough to turn that down and to turn down ACC baseball with all the good teams in that conference every year. The hardest part was leaving the recruiting class I was coming in with at NC State. I was part of one of the best recruiting classes in the country and to think of all we could accomplish was really tough to turn down.
Q: How different has life been since signing your professional contract?
A: Life hasn’t been too drastically different since signing. The main difference is just being away from home and being in Arizona, but i can’t complain too much. The weather is beautiful out here to play and workout in.
Q: Your first taste of professional baseball came this fall as you were chosen to partake in the Kansas City Royals Instructional League. What was playing in Instructional League like? What kind of adjustments did you have to make in order to adjust to the schedule of a professional baseball player?
A: Instructional league was great because it got me familiar with the players, coaches, and facilities of the Kansas City Royals. I learned a lot and really feel like I improved as a pitcher and it is only going to show in my first season of professional baseball. The main adjustment I had to make was throwing every single day. I wasn’t used to that, but I soon had to adjust and get used to it and in a hurry because you’re on a pretty tight schedule with your throwing and how much and preparation for every 5th day to go out pitch in a game.
Q: What are your expectations for this upcoming season?
A: This upcoming season is exciting for me and I really don’t know what to expect in my first full season of professional baseball, but I plan to work hard and keep improving every day and giving it my all wherever I may be. My goal is to play in Kane County close to home at some point during the season so that is what I’m working towards.
Q: What will you miss most about your amateur baseball career?
A: I’m going to miss playing with my friends the most. There is nothing like playing with your close friends and just cracking jokes and having a great time playing the game. I am really going to miss playing with those guys, but I have a lot of really good memories to look back on.
Q: In your opinion, what prepared you the most for the opportunity to play professional baseball?
A: I think playing around the country and being away from home almost all summer long really prepared me for playing at the professional level. I’m used to leaving my family at home and going down to Florida for a couple months each summer to play baseball so I would definitely say the traveling and being away from home really prepared me. Also, I played against the best competition there was to offer. That was a great learning experience for me as well and made me a better player.
Q: Who has been the most influential person in your life when it comes to sports?
A: I can’t choose just one coach that has been more influential over me. I would have to say all of my coaches have made an impact on my career and I want to thank every one of them from my high school coach to summer coaches and anyone else that has helped me along the way. But there is no doubt that my Dad; Jody Junis has been the most influential person in my baseball career. He has coached me and pushed me to my limits and always been the most supportive person in my baseball career. He’s always been very involved with my development not only as a player but as a person.