Brewers reportedly promoting top catching prospect to MLB for big-league debut

In 2025, the Milwaukee Brewers dealt with all kinds of roster shuffling during the first two weeks of the regular season. Injuries to Nestor Cortes, Aaron Civale, Tobias Myers, and Nick Mears, all occurring between March 27 and April 6, had the Brewers' pitching staff in a constant flux while the team was trying to find its footing in the new season.

The result was a slow start to the 2025 season, one that the Brewers more than overcame by eventually winning 97 games and earning the top overall seed in the postseason, but there's no doubt Milwaukee was hoping for a healthier start to the 2026 campaign. Unfortunately, those dreams were immediately dashed when the Brewers announced on Thursday morning that star outfielder Jackson Chourio would start the season on the injured list with a hairline fracture in his left hand that he suffered during an exhibition game for Team Venezuela back on March 4.

Now, it appears another player is headed to the injured list, after news leaked that top catching prospect Jeferson Quero is being promoted to the MLB roster ahead of this evening's game against the Chicago White Sox. The news was initially reported by Daniel Álvarez-Montes of elextrabase.com, and confirmed with the Brewers' by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Curt Hogg.

Brewers reportedly calling up Jeferson Quero for MLB debut, suggesting another disheartening IL placement is forthcoming

It's certainly an exciting day for Quero, and keen observers of the Brewers' farm system, who know that the former No. 1-ranked prospect in Milwaukee's minor league system has been waiting a long time for his MLB debut. Quero appeared very close to said debut when the 2024 campaign got underway, earning a role as the starting catcher for the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. However, in the first game of the 2024 season, Quero suffered a major shoulder injury diving back into first base, and was forced to miss the rest of the campaign. Then, the talented backstop's 2025 season was delayed by a hamstring strain, which limited him to just 69 games a season ago.

Known for his defensive abilities, Quero's shoulder injury significantly impacted his once elite arm strength. As he slowly builds back strength in his shoulder, his arm behind the plate is improving, but it's unlikely to ever be what it once was. On the offensive side of the ball, Quero certainly has some pop, with a .452 career slugging percentage in the minor leagues to prove it, but a 37% chase rate in Triple-A last year will need to be improved upon for the catching prospect to be successful against big-league pitching.

Many speculated that the Brewers would use Quero as their primary backup catcher to start the 2026 season, but that possibility was thrown out the door when the front office reunited with veteran catcher Gary Sánchez in mid-February. However, just one game into the season, Quero is getting his chance, but the news isn't all good for Brewers fans. The move means that one of Brewers' position players is headed to the IL, though the team has yet to confirm which one it will be.

UPDATE (11:29 a.m.): As first reported by MLB.com's Brewers beat reporter Adam McCalvy, first baseman Andrew Vaughn suffered a hand injury and is headed to the IL. Quero will fill Vaughn's spot on the active 26-man roster.

As McCalvy notes, Sánchez is expected to see some time at first base in the coming weeks with Vaughn on the IL. Sánchez has just 16.2 career innings at first base throughout his career, 12.2 of which came with the Brewers back in 2024.