It's been a long road back for Brewers minor-league pitcher Cameron Wagoner—but if his recent outings are any indication, the wait was well worth it.
After more than 950 days away from competitive action, the 2022 11th-round draft pick out of Eastern Michigan made his long-awaited return to the mound on May 2 for the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers. And he didn't just come back—he came back throwing heat, hitting 98.7 mph in his first appearance. That fastball touched 99 mph in a scoreless inning that featured two strikeouts, a jaw-dropping comeback for a pitcher who had every reason to hang up his cleats.
Wagoner's journey back has been anything but smooth. As he shared on the Biloxi Shuckers pregame show, things began to unravel when he noticed elbow issues while preparing for the 2024 season, leading to Tommy John surgery. Just as he was making progress, fluid buildup in his elbow forced another six months of rehab. Then came an elbow fracture, setting him back yet again. It's the kind of string of setbacks that could break any athlete's spirit.
His last professional appearance before this comeback came on September 6, 2023, with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Just one day earlier, he had been named Midwest League Pitcher of the Month for August after posting a stellar 4-0 record with a 1.37 ERA across five games. Wagoner made 24 appearances that season, mostly as a starter, showing the kind of promise that made him a name to watch in the Brewers system.
Since returning, Wagoner has made three appearances for Biloxi. After that electric first outing, he followed up on May 6 with 1⅓ innings, allowing a home run and a walk while hitting two batters but still managing a strikeout. On May 10, he tossed another inning, allowing two hits but no runs while striking out two more.
"Lot of time in rehab, lot of friends made, lot of lessons learned, for sure," Wagoner told Shuckers announcer Javik Blake. "It gave me time to understand my ability to throw now. Rather it used to be go in there blind, now I know what I can do."
For Brewers fans and minor-league followers alike, Wagoner's story is a reminder of the resilience it takes to make it to—and back from—the mound. And with a 99 mph fastball in his back pocket, this comeback story might just be getting started.