PORTLAND, Texas — Coastal Bend baseball's storied history got another chapter added this weekend when the Houston Astros selected former Gregory-Portland Wildcat Walker Janek with the 28th overall pick.
Houston picked the catcher out of Sam Houston State as his friends and family were on hand in Portland. Janek has been a star with the Bearkats, winning the Buster Posey Award this year as the nation's top collegiate catcher after he hit .364 with 17 homers in his junior season.
The former Wildcat spoke to reporters about growing up an Astros fan and why his selection by Houston is even more special for his family.
"My grandpa loves the Astros. He died a couple of years ago, so to make this dream come true, I know he'd be proud of me," Janek told reporters.
With the Hooks being the Astros' Double-A affiliate, there's a good chance we'll see Janek back in the Coastal Bend playing at Whataburger Field.
