Milwaukee Brewers right-hander J.B. Bukauskas will likely miss the entire 2025 season after opting to have lat surgery, according to reports.
Bukauskas, a former first-round draft pick by the Houston Astros in 2017, was deciding between rehab and surgery for the injury, which happened during a throwing session last week. The procedure comes with a recovery period of 9 to 10 months.
Bukauskas was in camp as a non-roster invitee after the Brewers outrighted him off the 40-man roster last week. He’ll spend the year on the minor league injured list.
It is yet another in a series of injuries for the former highly regarded 28-year-old pitcher, who has made 33 major league appearances with three different clubs. Bukauskas also has dealt with a torn teres major muscle, a cervical strain and a previous lat injury in April of last year.
Bukauskas had a 1.50 ERA in six relief appearances with the Brewers last season. He is 2-2 with a 5.04 ERA in his 33 relief appearances for the Arizona Diamondbacks (2021), Seattle Mariners (2023) and Brewers (2023-24).
