• Full name Jacob Allen Bukauskas
  • Born 10/11/1996 in Ashburn, VA
  • Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 208 / Bats: R / Throws: R
  • School North Carolina
  • Debut 04/20/2021
  • Drafted in the 1st round (15th overall) by the Houston Astros in 2017 (signed for $3,600,000).
    View Draft Report
    Bukauskas, whose first name is Jacob, reclassified as a high school junior to be part of the 2014 draft class and enroll at North Carolina a year early. The Diamondbacks drafted him that year anyway but he became a Tar Heel and made a jump as a sophomore, when he refined his slider to become one of the nation's top strikeout pitchers. Short but strong-bodied at a listed 6-foot, 201 pounds, Bukauskas features the nation's best breaking pitch, a slider that earns consistent 70 grades and even some 80s from area scouts. He has tremendous command of the 86-88 mph pitch with late, sharp bite and good tilt. He has better command of the slider than either his fastball or changeup, leading him to pitch off his slider more than big league pitchers would. The slider also helped him average 12.4 strikeouts per nine innings over 150 innings from the start of 2016 through April 2017. His fastball earns plus grades thanks to its velocity; it usually sits 95-97 mph early and settles in as a 92-94 mph pitch. It tends to lack movement even when he leaks out with his front shoulder and yanks the pitch. Bukauskas' changeup earned above-average grades as an amateur and in the summer of 2016 with USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team, but he was using it sparingly (5-10 times per game) as a junior, too infrequently for scouts to grade it more than average. The overall package leads many scouts to chalk Bukauskus up as a reliever, while others believe he could still start in the Sonny Gray/Lance McCullers mold. He's young for the class and has the swing-and-miss slider to land in the first 10 picks.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Draft Prospects

Minor League Top Prospects

Top 100 Rankings

Best Tools List

  • Rated Best Slider in the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2020
  • Rated Best Slider in the Houston Astros in 2019

Scouting Reports

Career Transactions

  • Milwaukee Brewers optioned RHP J.B. Bukauskas to Nashville Sounds.
  • RHP J.B. Bukauskas changed number to 45.
  • Milwaukee Brewers optioned RHP J.B. Bukauskas to Nashville Sounds.
  • Milwaukee Brewers recalled RHP J.B. Bukauskas from Nashville Sounds.
  • Milwaukee Brewers optioned RHP J.B. Bukauskas to Nashville Sounds.
  • Milwaukee Brewers activated RHP J.B. Bukauskas from the 15-day injured list.
  • Milwaukee Brewers optioned RHP J.B. Bukauskas to Nashville Sounds.
  • Milwaukee Brewers sent RHP J.B. Bukauskas on a rehab assignment to Nashville Sounds.
  • Milwaukee Brewers placed RHP J.B. Bukauskas on the 15-day injured list retroactive to May 17, 2023. Cervical strain.
  • Milwaukee Brewers recalled RHP J.B. Bukauskas from Nashville Sounds.
  • Milwaukee Brewers recalled RHP J.B. Bukauskas from Nashville Sounds.
  • RHP J.B. Bukauskas assigned to Nashville Sounds.
  • Nashville Sounds placed RHP J.B. Bukauskas on the 7-day injured list.
  • Milwaukee Brewers optioned RHP J.B. Bukauskas to Nashville Sounds.
  • Milwaukee Brewers claimed RHP J.B. Bukauskas off waivers from Seattle Mariners.
  • Seattle Mariners designated RHP J.B. Bukauskas for assignment.
  • Seattle Mariners optioned RHP J.B. Bukauskas to Tacoma Rainiers.
  • Tacoma Rainiers activated RHP J.B. Bukauskas.
  • Seattle Mariners selected the contract of RHP J.B. Bukauskas from Tacoma Rainiers.
  • Seattle Mariners invited non-roster RHP J.B. Bukauskas and to spring training.
  • Seattle Mariners sent RHP J.B. Bukauskas outright to Tacoma Rainiers.
  • Tacoma Rainiers activated RHP J.B. Bukauskas.
  • Seattle Mariners designated RHP J.B. Bukauskas for assignment.
  • Seattle Mariners claimed RHP J.B. Bukauskas off waivers from Arizona Diamondbacks.
  • Arizona Diamondbacks designated RHP J.B. Bukauskas for assignment.

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