See where mock drafts have Gregory-Portland's Walker Janek going in 2024 MLB Draft

Walker Janek's ascension up MLB mock draft boards continues in the days leading to the 2024 MLB Draft, slated to begin on Sunday.

Janek, who was an unheralded catcher out of Gregory-Portland when he signed with Sam Houston State in 2021, has worked himself into a draft prospect and now an expected first-round draft pick.

The Bearkats junior backstop won the Buster Posey Award last month, given to the nation's top collegiate catcher and was named first-team All American by Perfect Game and Baseball America along with being a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award and Dick Hoswer Trophy.

Janek hit .368 with 17 home runs and 58 RBIs, throwing out 16 of 31 stolen base attempts this season.

With his success this season, Janek has climbed from a projection in the early rounds, to a nearly consensus first round prospect.

If drafted in the first round, Janek would become the ninth Coastal Bend player to be selected in the first round and third since 2020, when Ray's Nick Loftin was a sandwich pick, chosen No. 32 overall with a competitive balance pick by the Kansas City Royals.

Sinton's Blake Mitchell was selected eighth overall by the Royals in the 2023 draft, the third Corpus Christi-area player selected in the Top 10.

The 2024 MLB Draft will air at 6 p.m. Sunday on MLB Network with the first two rounds. Rounds 3-10 will be held Monday with the draft concluding on Tuesday.

Here is a look at where Walker Janek is projected to be drafted by various media outlets' mock drafts as of July 11:

Bleacher Report: 21. Minnesota Twins

CBS Sports: 21. Minnesota Twins

USA Today: 28. Houston Astros

New York Times: 28. Houston Astros

ESPN.com: 29. Arizona Diamondbacks

MLB.com: 30. Texas Rangers

More: Gregory-Portland grad makes history with collegiate baseball award

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: See where mock drafts have Walker Janek going in 2024 MLB Draft