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UNC in MLB: J.B. Bukauskas drops out of top 100 prospects list

By Zack Pearson

FORT BRAGG, NC - JULY 03: A detailed view of baseballs prior to the game between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves on July 3, 2016 in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The Fort Bragg Game marks the first regular season MLB game ever to be played on an active military base. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
FORT BRAGG, NC - JULY 03: A detailed view of baseballs prior to the game between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves on July 3, 2016 in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The Fort Bragg Game marks the first regular season MLB game ever to be played on an active military base. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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J.B. Bukauskas has had a rough start to his baseball career in the Houston Astros organization

Former Diamond Heels ace pitcher J.B. Bukauskas hasn’t had the start to his Major League Baseball career that he would have liked. After being selected by the Houston Astros in the first round of the 2017 MLB Amateur Draft, the righty has struggled to stay consistent thus far.

Bukauskas has battled some injuries causing a slight derailment in his MLB career.

When he was drafted, he was considered one of the top pitching prospects in that 2017 MLB Draft and the next in line for the Astros future rotation. He was even listed in the MLB Pipeline Top 100 prospects list at No. 67 going into 2018.

But it hasn’t worked out that way just yet.

Bukauskas has dropped out of the Top 100 prospects list which was updated on June 21st by MLB.com’s Jim Callis. The writer noted that Bukauskas has “wipe out” stuff when he’s on his game, something the Astros loved when they drafted him out of UNC last year. He just hasn’t been able to stay healthy.

The right-handed pitcher has suffered an undisclosed injury that has caused him to make just two starts so far in 2018.

In those two starts Bukauskas has pitched just 5.2 innings allowing 10 hits and gave up five earned runs for an ERA of 7.94. Bukauskas has only made five starts total in the year since he was drafted by the Astros, splitting time between rookie ball, short A and Full A.

While his career certainly isn’t over and the Astros likely aren’t going to give up on him just yet, the main thing right now is for Bukauskas to get healthy. If he can do that and string together some quality starts, he could start climbing the minor league ranks.

Houston is one of the best teams in baseball again in 2018 and has been led by their starting rotation that features Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole and Charlie Morton. One day, the hope is that Bukauskas somehow finds his way as the ace of that staff.

Next: Mike Fox to stay with UNC

For more on Bukauskas and former UNC players in Major League Baseball, please check back with Keeping It Heel.

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