Brewers Halt Rehab Assignment for Quinn Priester Amid Ongoing Injury Recovery

LAS VEGAS – The Milwaukee Brewers have decided to pause the rehabilitation assignment of right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester as he continues to recover from thoracic outlet syndrome. On June 11, the team announced that Priester will return from his minor-league rehab stint and remains on the 60-day injured list.

This decision follows Priester's recent performance during his second outing with the Brewers' rookie-level team in the Arizona Complex League, where he allowed three earned runs, recorded one hit, and issued five walks in 2 ⅔ innings while also hitting a batter. Despite these struggles, the Brewers noted that Priester experienced "no physical complaint" during the game.

Unfortunately, Priester's next scheduled appearance, which was supposed to involve five innings and 70-75 pitches on June 13, has been canceled. It is expected that he will return to Milwaukee to consult with the team’s medical staff regarding his recovery plan. Manager Pat Murphy expressed concerns, stating, "It doesn't bode well to be ready to pitch in the major leagues," and highlighted that Priester’s challenges might stem from movement on his pitches or environmental factors.

Priester has participated in five rehab games at various levels, including Class AAA Nashville and High A Wisconsin, where he has accumulated a 15.75 ERA over 16 innings, with 24 walks and four hit batters. When asked about the possibility of reassessing Priester's recovery path, including surgery, Murphy stated, "I don't think we're close to (surgery). I think we've got to give this guy a chance," emphasizing the need for patience with nerve-related issues.

While the Brewers have managed to perform well without Priester, who had a standout season last year with a 13-3 record and a 3.32 ERA, they could certainly use his talents as they navigate their pitching rotation. The team is currently relying on pitchers like Jacob Misiorowski and Kyle Harrison, but depth remains a concern as Brandon Woodruff works through his own recovery from an arm issue.