Milwaukee Brewers right-handed pitcher J.B. Bukauskas, 29, is expected to make a return to baseball in the Brewers' clubhouse in 2026.

Bukauskas has had a career that has felt like a fever dream up to this point drafted by the Houston Astros with the 15th overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft.

During the draft process, he was getting big-league comparisons to pitcher Sonny Gray. The 6-foot-tall former collegiate phenom pitched three years at the University of North Carolina. At the end of his sophomore season, he was even part of the USA's collegiate team.

Even though Bukauskas showcased his power-pitching potential at the time of the draft, Astros scout Tim Bittner described Bukauskas as "quiet bulldog" and he added that "very few things rattle him."

However, as the years progressed, he would deal with a series of setbacks that left his development into a potential ace on shaky ground. After the COVID-shortened season of 2020, he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2021.

Bukauskas would have multiple reoccurring lateral injuries, and he missed the entire 2025.

Up to this point, Bukauskas has only played in a measly 33 games in his career. He also just has 27 total strikeouts. Hopefully, this is the last and final time that Bukauskas will have to deal with this kind of misfortune.

Hopefully, he can train his body to not only meet the demands of the 2026 MLB season, but also reclaim some of the power he once possessed.

One interesting thing to note, according to his Baseball Savant profile, is that he mostly utilizes two pitches -- a slider, which he heavily favors, and a sinker that is his only other pitch.

If his rehabilitation goes well, then Bukauskas hopefully can add a fastball back into his arsenal. That's something he had when being drafted. And, also adding additional pitches will make his sequencing feel more complete.

It’s clear that the Brewers believe Bukauskas has a lot left in the tank, and has the ability to get back to pitching at the level of his former self.

A manager as calculated as Pat Murphy is would not take the risk of keeping him if he did not believe it was worth it.

In sports, everyone loves a good redemption story. Hopefully, in the case of J.B. Bukauskas, he comes back with a vengeance.

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