Miami Marlins Pitcher Janson Junk Enters Next Start Riding Historic Start to Season

Janson Junk has handled his transition from the Miami Marlins' bullpen to their rotation with ease, becoming the first player in the live ball era to limit home runs and walks as efficiently as he has.

Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Janson Junk (26) pitches against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. | Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

As he prepares to take the mound Sunday afternoon, Janson Junk stands side by side with giants.

The Miami Marlins right-hander enters the series finale against the Kansas City Royals with a 4-1 record, 2.68 ERA, 0.993 WHIP and 1.2 WAR on the season. Through five long relief appearances and five starts, Junk has given up just four walks and one home run.

According to OptaSTATS, Junk is one of four pitchers in modern MLB history to allow five or fewer combined home runs and walks over at least 50.0 innings through their first 10 appearances in a season.

The last player to achieve the feat was Babe Adams in 1920. Cy Young established the club in 1906, while fellow Hall of Fame pitcher Ed Walsh joined him in 1908.

MLB players with 5 or fewer combined HR & BB allowed over 50+ innings through 10 games pitched in a season since 1901:

1906 Cy Young
1908 Ed Walsh
1920 Babe Adams
2025 Janson Junk pic.twitter.com/SUvBhx1ZiG

— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) July 20, 2025

Junk, 29, got his start in the New York Yankees' farm system. He was traded to the Los Angeles Angels and made his MLB debut in 2021, then bounced around between the Milwaukee Brewers, Houston Astros and Oakland Athletics before inking a minor league deal with the Marlins in February.

First pitch from loanDepot Park is scheduled for 1:40 p.m. ET. Junk is going head-to-head with Kris Bubic, who is 7-6 with a 2.48 ERA, 1.160 WHIP and 3.3 WAR this season.

Related MLB Stories

• BREWERS PITCHERS DEALING: No team in MLB is hotter than the Milwaukee Brewers as the second half gets underway, with a significant portion of the credit going to their dominant pitching staff. CLICK HERE

• STOWERS STAYING PUT: Kyle Stowers represented the Miami Marlins at the All-Star Game on Tuesday and has hit five home runs in his last two games, meaning he isn't going to be shopped ahead of the trade deadline. CLICK HERE

• CORA SAW COLDPLAY: Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and chief HR officer Kristin Cabot famously saw Coldplay perform at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday, but Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora was there as well. CLICK HERE

Follow Fastball On SI on social media

Continue to follow our Fastball On SI coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @FastballFN.

You can also follow Sam Connon on Twitter @SamConnon.