J.B. Bukauskas – Milwaukee Brewers Biography, Contract, Net Worth Information

J.B. Bukauskas is a 28-year-old professional baseball pitcher in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. Born October 11, 1996, the American right-hander has logged just over two years in Major League Baseball, with his service time sitting at 2.086 years as of 2025.

His path through pro baseball has taken him through several organizations since his draft day.

Bukauskas pulls in a salary of $720,000 per year and has built up a net worth of around $4,791,339 during his baseball career. He’s reached this figure since landing a hefty signing bonus of $3,600,000 from the Houston Astros in 2017, right after his college days at North Carolina.

He’s bounced around a bit—one of the more notable moves came on April 9, 2023, when the Seattle Mariners selected his contract from the Tacoma Rainiers. Injuries and roster shuffles have limited his time on the field, but Bukauskas keeps grinding, hoping to lock down a steady relief role in the majors.

Early Life and Amateur Career

J.B. Bukauskas started turning heads as a baseball prodigy pretty early, showing off pitching talent that set him on a path toward pro ball. You could see his focus and drive from a young age.

Background and Family

James Bukauskas, born October 11, 1996, in Ashburn, Virginia, grew up with a supportive family that really helped him chase his baseball dreams. His parents jumped in early, encouraging him to play in local youth leagues.

The Bukauskas crew made a point of traveling to tournaments and backing his training needs. Growing up in the competitive Northern Virginia baseball scene definitely fueled his edge.

His dad, who played ball himself back in the day, became J.B.’s first mentor and catch partner. They spent a lot of time working on pitching mechanics together.

High School Achievements

At Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn, Bukauskas quickly became a top pitching prospect. He actually reclassified and graduated a year early in 2014, which says a lot about his ambition and confidence.

He put up some wild stats in high school, including a senior season with a ERA under 1.00 and regular double-digit strikeout games.

His fastball already reached the mid-90s, grabbing the attention of major league scouts. The Arizona Diamondbacks picked him in the 20th round of the 2014 MLB Draft, but he stuck with his plan to play college ball.

College Baseball Highlights

At the University of North Carolina, Bukauskas grew into one of the best pitchers in college baseball. During his three years with the Tar Heels, he sharpened his pitch mix and command.

His sophomore season was solid, but he really broke out as a junior. In 2017, he went 9-1 with a 2.53 ERA and racked up 116 strikeouts in 92.2 innings, earning ACC Pitcher of the Year.

Bukauskas’s slider got a reputation as one of the nastiest breaking pitches in college baseball, working perfectly with his high-velocity fastball. He held his own against top ACC hitters.

The Astros took notice and picked him 15th overall in the 2017 MLB Draft, officially starting his pro career.

Professional Career Overview

J.B. Bukauskas has traveled a winding road in pro baseball since the Astros drafted him in the first round in 2017. He’s switched organizations a few times, had some spring training highlights, and keeps working to find a steady spot in the National League Central.

MLB Debut and Astros Tenure

The Houston Astros picked him 15th overall in 2017 out of UNC. Bukauskas moved up the Astros’ minor league ladder, showing off that power fastball and sharp slider.

He climbed through different minor league levels, and the Astros saw him as a possible future starter. He ran into the usual prospect bumps: learning to handle pro hitters and dialing in his command.

The Astros’ player development staff worked closely with him to harness his stuff and build up his stamina. Even with all that promise, they eventually dealt him in a big trade.

Transfers Between Teams

The Astros sent Bukauskas to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Zack Greinke deal in July 2019. That move took him from an AL contender to a rebuilding NL club.

He worked his way up in Arizona’s system and made his MLB debut with the Diamondbacks. After that, his journey got even more unpredictable, with more organizational changes as he looked for the right fit.

Bukauskas eventually landed with the Milwaukee Brewers, another step in his career. His latest contract pays him $720,000 per year, showing that teams still see value in his arm.

His net worth sits at about $4.8 million, a number that reflects his earnings since turning pro.

Spring Training Performances

Spring training has given Bukauskas chances to show what he can do and fight for roster spots. These pre-season games have played a big role in where he lands within organizations and whether he cracks opening day rosters.

He’s flashed a fastball that touches the mid-90s and a breaking ball that’s always been his calling card. Teams have used these spring looks to figure out his best fit on the staff.

He’s shown moments of dominance in spring, but also areas where he needs to tighten up his command. Coaches have worked with him on mechanical tweaks to help him get more consistent.

His recent spring outings have felt especially important as he tries to finally carve out a permanent MLB role.

NL Central Involvement

Bukauskas now finds himself in the National League Central, especially with the Milwaukee Brewers. This division marks a key chapter in his pro journey.

The NL Central is a tough division, with teams like the Brewers, Reds, Cubs, Pirates, and Cardinals. Each park has its quirks, so it’s not always easy for pitchers.

Bukauskas has fought for a spot in the Brewers’ pitching staff, going up against both veterans and other young arms. As a pre-arbitration player through 2024, the Brewers get a chance to see what he’s got without a big financial commitment.

Facing division rivals gives him plenty of tests and learning opportunities in NL Central matchups.

Pitching Style and Performance

J.B. Bukauskas has developed a pitching style that’s all about movement and deception. He mixes power and finesse, picking pitches that mess with hitters’ timing.

Signature Pitches

Bukauskas leans on a two-pitch mix that’s become his signature. According to Baseball Savant, he throws his slider (51.1%) and sinker (48.9%) almost exclusively. The slider is his go-to, breaking late and drawing lots of swings and misses.

His sinker works at a different eye level and speed, usually in the mid-90s. This combo creates a tunneling effect that makes it tough for batters to pick up the difference until it’s too late.

Sometimes he’ll mix in a changeup for lefties, but it’s not a big part of his game.

Strikeouts and WHIP

Bukauskas can rack up strikeouts, especially when his slider is on. At his best, he gets hitters chasing and missing that breaking ball.

His WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) has been a work in progress. He’s had some command issues that lead to more walks than he’d like, which can hurt him in big spots.

He’s shown flashes of dominance in the majors, but also stretches where his control slips. When he’s got his slider working, the strikeouts pile up, but if he loses the zone, his WHIP climbs.

Staying in the big leagues probably depends on him ironing out that command while keeping his swing-and-miss stuff.

Home Runs Allowed

Bukauskas does a good job limiting home runs, which is no small feat in today’s homer-happy MLB. His sinker gets grounders at an above-average clip, so he keeps the ball in the yard better than a lot of relievers.

When he gives up home runs, it’s usually on sinkers that stay up and catch too much plate. His well-located slider hardly ever gets punished, even by big power bats.

The Brewers really value his ability to keep the ball down, especially since their home park can be pretty hitter-friendly in the summer. His ground ball tendencies make him a reliable option in tight, high-leverage spots.

Notable Games and Moments

He’s still putting together his big league resume, but Bukauskas has already given fans a few memorable moments. He made his MLB debut after the Astros drafted him 15th overall in 2017.

One of his best outings? He struck out three straight hitters in the heart of a lineup, showing how nasty his slider can be. That day, the pitch had extra bite, and even the announcers couldn’t help but notice.

Bukauskas has bounced around a bit—some setbacks, some bright spots. He’s kept at it and keeps working to refine his approach.

Now with the Milwaukee Brewers, he’s trying to find that consistency and command that could turn his raw talent into a lasting MLB career.

Personal Challenges and Setbacks

J.B. Bukauskas has run into some real hurdles in his pro baseball journey. Injuries, in particular, have made things tougher and slowed his climb.

Injuries and Recovery

Bukauskas has dealt with a handful of injury issues since turning pro. In April 2024, he suffered a lat strain that knocked him out for a while with the Brewers. That one was especially frustrating—he even had a setback in his recovery and needed an MRI to see what was going on.

Back in the minors, he also battled back problems that threw off his development timeline. Each time, he had to go through careful rehab and take things slow to get back on track.

His recoveries usually meant building up with throwing programs, strength work, and close check-ins with the medical staff to make sure he didn’t re-injure himself.

Collision Incidents

Bukauskas faced one of the toughest moments of his career during spring training in 2019 with the Houston Astros. Another car hit his vehicle, and he suffered a significant back injury.

He missed the start of the 2019 season because of the accident, which really threw off his development. The timing couldn’t have been much worse—it happened right when he was starting to gain momentum in his career.

Incidents like this really show how stuff off the field can totally change a player’s path. Bukauskas had to fight through the physical pain and the mental challenge of getting back to form after such a random setback.

Injured List Stints

Bukauskas has spent a good chunk of his career on the injured list. Most recently, he landed on the IL in mid-April 2024 with a stubborn lat strain. He’s had multiple setbacks that have kept him off the field longer than expected.

Back in 2021 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, he went on the IL for a right elbow flexor strain. That’s always scary for a pitcher. The elbow issues needed careful management to avoid making things worse.

All these trips to the IL have made it tough for him to build any real consistency at the big league level. Every return means starting over—getting back the velocity, command, and confidence. Bukauskas has had to deal with that cycle more than most players.

Contracts, Earnings, and Net Worth

J.B. Bukauskas has put together a modest financial portfolio from his MLB contracts. Right now, his net worth sits around $4.8 million. His main source of income is his baseball salary, which has slowly gone up over time.

Contract History and Details

He’s currently playing under a pre-arbitration contract for $740,000 in 2024. That’s a slight bump from last year’s $720,000. Since he’s still pre-arbitration, his contracts stay on the lower side compared to the big-name veterans.

The Milwaukee Brewers picked him up through the waiver system, which changed his contract situation a bit. Pre-arbitration contracts like his are just standard for younger MLB players.

His deal doesn’t include any signing bonuses, which isn’t unusual at this stage. It’s a simple one-year contract, giving the team some flexibility while Bukauskas tries to lock down a bullpen spot.

Net Worth Evaluation

J.B. Bukauskas’s net worth currently stands at about $4,791,339. That number takes into account his salary, his original signing bonus, and any investments he might have made.

His value to teams has gone up and down. In 2021, Bleacher Report even valued his performance at negative $7.5 million, which is rough—basically saying he wasn’t living up to his paycheck.

Analysts usually look at a few things to figure out a player’s net worth:

• Career earnings
• Bonus structures
• Taxes
• Known investments
• Projected future income

Bukauskas’s net worth is pretty modest compared to MLB stars. That’s not surprising, considering he’s still working to secure a permanent spot in a major league bullpen.

Endorsements and Additional Income

Bukauskas hasn’t landed any big endorsement deals, unlike some of the league’s superstars. Relief pitchers rarely get the same marketing opportunities as everyday players or aces.

He probably makes a little extra from things like:

• Minor appearances: Signing autographs, running camps
• Social media partnerships: The occasional small promo
• Investments: Just standard financial management

Baseball endorsements usually go to players who are household names and always on the field. Bukauskas is still trying to make a name for himself as a bullpen arm, so his marketing potential is limited for now.

Most relievers in his position just focus on pitching well to earn better contracts, rather than chasing after endorsement deals. That seems to fit Bukauskas’s approach as he works to raise his value through his performance.

Off-Field Life and Public Image

J.B. Bukauskas keeps things pretty low-key off the field. He’s involved in the community and pops up in the media now and then, but his personal life stays mostly private—especially compared to some of the bigger personalities in baseball.

Community Engagement

He’s shown a real commitment to giving back, joining several charitable efforts over his career. Bukauskas often joins team outreach programs, and he’s especially focused on youth baseball in underserved areas.

While he played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, he visited children’s hospitals and supported local education drives with his teammates. He’s shown up at youth baseball clinics, giving pitching tips and encouragement to kids chasing the same dream.

He’s not as out-front with philanthropy as some MLB stars, but teammates have noticed his efforts behind the scenes. Bukauskas has said that working with young athletes reminds him of how he got started.

Media Presence

Bukauskas keeps a pretty low profile on social media. Most of his posts are about baseball, with the occasional peek into his training or personal interests.

When he does interviews, he comes across as thoughtful and focused on the team. He usually talks about his development as a pitcher, not so much about personal achievements. Most media coverage sticks to his performance and injury updates rather than his life away from the game.

Some players go all-in on building their brand in the media, but Bukauskas takes a quieter route. That’s probably helped him keep his privacy, especially during tough stretches like injury rehabs.

Controversies and Allegations

Bukauskas has mostly stayed out of major controversies throughout his career.

Unlike a lot of high-profile athletes who seem to attract public scrutiny, you just don’t see his name popping up in headlines for off-field issues.

In 2021, people briefly brought up Bukauskas in conversations about foreign substance use by pitchers. But honestly, no one ever specifically accused him of anything. MLB’s crackdown on grip enhancers swept up plenty of pitchers, and his name just floated around the edges.

Some fans and analysts have questioned how team management handled his development and injuries. Still, those criticisms really focused on the organization, not on Bukauskas himself.

His relationship with teammates—catchers like William Contreras included—has stayed professional. There hasn’t been any public drama there.