Quinn Priester’s attempt to return to the Milwaukee Brewers was met with challenges on May 16, as he struggled during his resumed rehabilitation assignment following a season delayed by thoracic outlet syndrome.
The issue is significant for both Priester and the Brewers, as the pitcher has yet to regain form after his injury diagnosis. During a start for High-A Wisconsin against South Bend in Grand Chute, Priester allowed five hits and seven earned runs while recording only four outs. All seven runs came in one inning that included four singles, two run-scoring walks, and a wild pitch.
This performance mirrored difficulties from his earlier rehab stint with Triple-A Nashville. In that assignment, Priester gave up nine earned runs over three starts, along with eight walks and two hit batters. After those outings between April 22 and May 1, the team ended his initial rehab effort hoping rest would help him recover.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy said he watched Priester’s latest outing live. “What did I tell you guys? It’s going to be a while,” Murphy said. “The injury itself, it’s nerve-based, and you don’t just come back from that, like, ‘Oh, I’ve got everything.’ So for instance, he can’t consistently get to glove side right now and have that same two-seamer movement that was so effective. … It’s a feel thing. It’s going to take some time.”
Priester first experienced symptoms last August with wrist soreness that persisted into spring training. He visited vascular surgeon Dr. Gregory Pearl in Dallas this March who confirmed thoracic outlet syndrome—a condition involving compression of nerves or blood vessels near the neck leading to pain or numbness in the arm or hand.
While some athletes require decompression surgery for relief—such as Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler—the Brewers believe surgery is not necessary for Priester at this stage. “We would have the procedure if we didn’t think he could do it,” Murphy said.
In 2025 before his injury troubles began, Priester had been an important contributor for Milwaukee after being acquired from Boston; he went 13-3 with a 3.55 ERA during a stretch when the team won 19 straight games in which he pitched.
