SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Right-hander Jakob Junis knows he doesn't have a starting job locked up. But based on his rookie performance in 2017 -- 9-3, 4.30 ERA -- he certainly has built some equity in manager Ned Yost's mind.
"He has," Yost said. "He just needs to keep doing what he's doing."
Junis is taking nothing for granted. Danny Duffy, Ian Kennedy and Jason Hammel are obvious locks for the rotation. Right-hander Nathan Karns, coming off surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, likely will have another spot secured.