WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Walker Janek and Lucas Spence made the most of their final day in big league camp.
Hours after both prospects contributed to a seven-run eighth inning in the Astros’ 10–3 split-squad win over the Cardinals—Janek doubling home a run and Spence reaching on a double of his own—Houston announced Monday that both players had been reassigned to minor league camp. Neither move came as a surprise. What they leave behind, however, is harder to ignore.
A Spring That Turned Heads
Janek, the Astros’ 2024 first-round pick out of Sam Houston State, was arguably one of the most electric players in camp this spring regardless of level. The 23-year-old catcher slashed .455/.571/.909 over 11 at-bats, collecting two doubles, a home run, four walks, and four stolen bases. His arm behind the plate is already considered one of the best in the system, and his offensive development continues to accelerate. Last season he hit 12 home runs and stole 30 bases across two levels, finishing the year at High-A Asheville.
What made his spring even more remarkable is what he was managing behind the scenes.
During his sophomore year at Sam Houston State, Janek began rapidly losing weight—about 25 pounds in a month. Further testing revealed Type 1 diabetes, and he was immediately placed on insulin.
Managing the disease during his first major league camp added another layer of challenge to an already demanding experience. Janek wears an insulin pump on the field and keeps quick glucose sources—Gatorade, applesauce, fruit snacks—available in the dugout. His sleep and diet require constant monitoring.
Support Inside the Organization
The Astros have gone out of their way to support him. Manager Joe Espada organized a Zoom meeting last month that brought together Janek, Astros dietitian Geordan Stapleton, minor league pitcher Ramsey David, and former big leaguer Sam Fuld, all of whom have Type 1 diabetes.
“I think managing the disease, as I told Walker, was as much a mental challenge as a physical challenge,” Fuld said. “It’s staying focused and motivated and knowing that you’ll have inevitable frustrations along the way, but not letting your blood sugar and Type 1 diabetes management affect your performance on the field.”
Stapleton, who was diagnosed at age 12, has been a primary resource for Janek this spring.
“This spring, it’s been diabetes education 101 and trying to make sure he understands the foundations,” she said. “The basic things just make all the difference.”
Janek has embraced the challenge.
“Overall, I think it’s made me a better athlete,” he said. “I eat a lot better now. I also have a lot of resources here, so there’s a lot of advantages being with the Astros.”
Spence’s Next Step
Spence, a 23-year-old outfielder signed as an undrafted free agent after winning the Ohio Valley Conference batting title at Southern Illinois Edwardsville, had a quieter spring, hitting .176 over nine games and 19 at-bats. The strikeout issues that surfaced in 2025—122 across 116 games—appeared at times again. But context matters: last season was his first full professional campaign, and he finished it at Double-A. The ceiling remains worth watching.
Both players now return to minor league camp with meaningful development ahead. For Janek, a jump to Double-A Corpus Christi—his hometown—appears likely.
The spring didn’t just confirm the hype around the Astros’ young catcher. It added to it, in more ways than one.
