Brewers receive ideal update on Top 100 prospect's health after mysterious absence

In his first plate appearance of the 2024 season, Jeferson Quero, the Milwaukee Brewers' top prospect, drew a walk. During the next at-bat, he was picked off at first base, dislocating his shoulder and tearing his labrum as he dove back to the bag. Quero, the 44th-ranked prospect in all of baseball, missed the rest of the 2024 season and has yet to make his return to the field. However, the delay in his return is due to a new injury that was apparently more serious than Brewers fans were aware of.

In late spring, Sam Dkystra of MiLB.com reported that Quero suffered a hamstring injury late in spring training that was preventing him from starting the season on the Triple-A Nashville Sounds' active roster. The news was disappointing for Quero, who must be itching to get back on the diamond after a year-long absence. At the time, the severity of the issue wasn't known, but on Tuesday it was revealed that Quero narrowly avoided another serious injury according to MLB Pipeline.

"Quero went on the Minor League IL on March 31 after suffering a strained hamstring. He has been cleared to resume baseball activities and will not need surgery for the hamstring issue, which occurred as the 22-year-old was completing his comeback from last year's shoulder surgery."

MLB Pipeline

Jeferson Quero back in action after hamstring injury turns out to be more severe than initially reported

A hamstring strain is generally not an injury that requires surgery, but when it was reported that Quero had explored that option, Brewers fans were even happier to learn that their top prospect was resuming baseball activities, as also reported by MLB.com's Adam McCalvy, on the social media platform X.

Though Quero will likely slot in as the Brewers' fourth catcher on the depth chart for the rest of the season, with William Contreras, Eric Haase, and Jorge Alfaro all in front of him, he remains the team's best long-term option at catcher, and his progress this season will be closely monitored.

Known for his defense, and specifically his plus-plus arm strength, Quero will need some time to regain his full value, but in the meantime, he will look to build on the impressive offensive season he had in 2023. In 90 games for the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers in 2023, Quero slashed .262/.339/.440 while slugging 16 home runs and walking in 10% of his at-bats.

Quero will likely split time between DH and catcher for a while as he eases back into the game, with Alfaro covering the rest of the catching duties for the Sounds. As the Brewers’ top prospect, expectations will be high for Quero, but the pressure should be reduced slightly knowing that the team has several other catching options they can turn to before they will require Quero's services.