Plummeting velocity and a ballooning ERA have Quinn Priester struggling following thoracic outlet syndrome. Milwaukee must now decide if surgery is the only way to save his career.
It's not a question Milwaukee Brewers fans are going to be happy about, but this team needs to take a step back and ask themselves what they want to do with Quinn Priester.
Stellar 2025 aside, Priester hasn't been himself this season. Obviously, a large part of that is due to thoracic outlet syndrome, but that doesn't make it any easier to process.
Priester had a rough outing in Appleton for the Timber Rattlers, but the Brewers were confident he could go from High-A to Triple-A in a few days time.
Now, his latest rehab outing with the Nashville Sounds has concluded, but it's clear the 25-year-old is nowhere near ready to return to the big leagues.
Quinn Priester's Latest Rehab Start Falls Flat
Last night in Durham, Priester went three innings while giving up five runs on five hits. While it was great to see him go past the dreaded 1 1/3 innings he put forward last week, his ERA with the Sounds this year sits at 15.75 and he once again had more walks than strikeouts.
Priester's sinker averaged 92.2 mph, but that's still down nearly 2.0 mph from where it was a year ago. That's still a great velocity to have for a sinker in the big leagues, but it being a full 1.7 points down shows just how far off Priester really is from the pitcher he was in 2025.
Not only that, but Priester induced just four whiffs in the nine outs he recorded. All five runs he gave up were earned, and at the very least a consolation prize is he didn't give up a home run.
Priester Could Replicate Zack Wheeler's Recovery
Back on September 23, 2025, Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler underwent thoracic outlet decompression surgery. Wheeler returned to the mound in April 2026, which shows how long the timeline is, but one that could preserve Priester's career.
Milwaukee may give Priester another start in Triple-A before deciding one way or another. But, as of right now, it's clear that the Brewers aren't getting what they did last year out of a guy who should be given a permanent spot in their rotation.
At the end of the day, Priester's health is the No. 1 priority. It's clear something is off, and if it doesn't get fixed soon, there's no reason to keep putting Priester in these situations. Wheeler might not be at his best anymore, but that was an extremely high bar in the first place, so this surgery is absolutely something worth considering.
Join the Community
Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!
It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
