J.B. Bukauskas

Jacob Allen Bukauskas

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 196 lb.
• School University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• High School Stone Bridge High School
• Debut April 20, 2021

• Born October 11, 1996 in Ashburn, VA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Pitcher J.B. Bukauskas was drafted in the 1st round of the 2017 amateur draft by the Houston Astros, with the 15th overall pick, out of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He started his pro career that same year with 1 start for the GCL Astros and 2 for the Tri-City ValleyCats, totaling 10 innings. In 2018, he was with five different teams, going from Rookie-class to AA, making a total of 14 starts with a record of 4-2, 2.14 in 59 innings, his season being shortened by injuries. He then played in the Arizona Fall League after the season.

In 2019, Bukauskas was with the AA Corpus Christi Hooks and pitched in the 2019 Futures Game. In 20 games (14 starts), he went 2-4, 5.25 with 98 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings. While the Astros were still limiting his workload, he was considered one of the top three prospects in their organization, and on July 31st, he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks as part of the package of youngsters used to acquire All-Star starting pitcher Zack Greinke; joining him were Seth Beer, Corbin Martin and Josh Rojas. Interestingly, he was the "one that got away" for the D-Backs, as they had originally drafted him in the 20th round of the 2014 amateur draft, but had failed to sign him.

He made his major league debut for the Diamondbacks on April 20, 2021, in a suspended game against the Cincinnati Reds. He came in with two outs in the 7th inning in relief of Alex Young and recorded the final out. Arizona was trailing 4-3 at the time, but scored a couple of runs in the top of the 8th to take the lead, at which point the game was stopped by rain. It was suspended and not called since the Reds had not had a chance to reply to the D-Backs' taking the lead in their half of the inning. Bukauskas stood to be the winning pitcher, but had to wait until the next day for the game to be completed and the win to become official.

Related Sites

• J.B. Bukauskas on mlb.com
• BR Minors page