SPRINGDALE -- Jake Junis' first experience at the Double-A level was pretty forgettable, but it sure stuck in his memory.
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound right-hander was promoted to Northwest Arkansas from Class A-Advanced Wilmington to make a spot start just before the Texas League All-Star break last year.
Jake Junis
Team: Northwest Arkansas Naturals
Position: Pitcher
Age: 23
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 225
Notable: Selected in the 29th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft by the Kansas City Royals out of Rock Falls, Ill. … Declined a scholarship offer to play at North Carolina State and signed for a $675,000 bonus with the Royals. … Currently 6-4 with a 3.30 ERA and selected to play in the Texas League All-Star Game.
Texas League All-Star Game
North Division All-Stars vs. South Division All-Stars
When: 7:10 p.m. tonight
Where: Hammons Field, Springfield, Mo.
Notable: Frank Schwindel will represent Northwest Arkansas in the Home Run Derby. Schwindel, Mauricio Ramos, both corner infielders, and pitcher Jake Junis were selected for the North Division All-Stars. Naturals pitchers Alec Mills and Kevin McCarthy were also selected, but both were recently promoted to Triple-A.
It didn't go great. He last just four innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits, but he acknowledged it helped in the long run.
"I was definitely nervous," Junis said. "I could see a distinct difference between High-A and Double-A. I was kinda glad I got the experience even though I gave up some runs. Because I knew what I had to become to be able to pitch at that level."
Junis got off to a slow start this season in his return to Northwest Arkansas, but some improved mechanics and better focus on the mound has helped him turn into one of the better pitchers in the Texas League.
He's one of three Naturals who will play in the Texas League All-Star Game tonight in Springfield, Mo. Junis is joined by first baseman Frank Schwindel and third baseman Mauricio Ramos on the North Division All-Stars.
Northwest Arkansas manager Vance Wilson said focus was something that was addressed with Junis early this season.
"He's a very laid-back kid, which is a positive at times," Wilson said. "But the intent's got to be different. I think his intent early on was just to get through the game instead of focusing on every pitch. We kinda challenged him with that, and he ran with it."
Junis agreed.
"At the beginning, I had one or two or three pitches a game where I lost focus and it hurt me really bad," Junis said. "I gave up a grand slam on one. I really tried paying more detail to every single pitch."
It worked too, as the 29th-round draft pick caught fire. Junis went 5-1 over eight starts with 0.90 ERA to establish himself as one of the top pitchers in the league. He also leads the league with 82 strikeouts in only 79 innings of work at the break.
Having Steve Leubber as his pitching coach for a second consecutive year is something Junis and Wilson agree has been a big positive in his development, too.
"I think working with Luebber for second year in a row has definitely helped me," Junis said. "We did some good things last year, but coming up here it's been like a step more. I have a few more trigger points to go to when things aren't going great to get me back on track quicker than before."
Luebber pointed to something mechanical in his delivery that they worked on last year, which finally stuck this year, and it showed in his results.
"He started getting through the ball, and his pitch quality got better," Luebber said. "His fastball was crisper, down better. His breaking stuff was much sharper. Once things clicked, he had a better, clearer goal of what he's trying to do, and his confidence grew, and they fed off each other."
Sports on 06/28/2016