It's been a long road back for Brewers minor-league pitcher Cameron Wagoner—but if his recent outings are any indication, he's making up for lost time in a big way.

After more than 950 days away from competitive action, the 2022 11th-round pick out of Eastern Michigan returned to the mound for the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers on May 2, and he did it with authority—touching 98.7 mph on the radar gun. He followed that up with appearances on May 6 and May 10, continuing to build momentum in his comeback.

Wagoner's journey back hasn't been easy. As he shared on the Biloxi pregame show, he underwent Tommy John surgery after elbow issues surfaced during his 2024 preparations. But the setbacks didn't stop there. Fluid buildup in his elbow required another six months of rehab, and then an elbow fracture sent him into yet another recovery cycle.

His last professional outing before this comeback came on September 6, 2023, with the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Just one day earlier, he had been named the Midwest League Pitcher of the Month for August after posting a stellar 4-0 record with a 1.37 ERA over five appearances.

In his long-awaited return on May 2, Wagoner fired a scoreless inning with two strikeouts, and the Shuckers reported he even hit 99 mph. On May 6, he worked 1⅓ innings, allowing a home run and a walk while hitting two batters, but still managed a strikeout. Then on May 10, he turned in another solid outing: one inning, two hits allowed, no runs, and two more strikeouts in a Shuckers loss.

Wagoner made 24 appearances with Wisconsin in his last full season, primarily as a starter. Now, he's back on the mound and showing the kind of resilience and arm talent that made him a standout in the first place.

For Brewers fans, this is exactly the kind of story that makes following the minor leagues so rewarding—a pitcher who refused to let injury define his career, now throwing gas and proving he belongs.