Top Brewers prospect continues to prove he's ready for the big leagues in 2026

Outside of a potential trade of their ace, Freddy Peralta, the Milwaukee Brewers are expected to have a relatively quiet offseason by their standards. With a majority of their postseason roster under contract for the 2026 season, the usual roster turnover that Brewers fans have come to expect every winter will surely be dampened this year.

Without having to bring in a swath of new players, the Brewers' front office may turn their attention to extending some of their current stars. One name that has already been floated as a potential candidate for a contract extension this offseason is William Contreras. While the Brewers would love to keep him around for the long haul, Contreras, who has just two years remaining before he hits free agency, has established himself as one of the best catchers in all of baseball, potentially pricing himself out of a long-term deal with Milwaukee.

Regardless of whether or not the two sides can agree on an extension this offseason, Contreras will almost certainly be back behind the dish for the Brew Crew in 2026. However, one question that Matt Arnold and company have to answer during the offseason is who will be backing up the 2x All-Star next year. One top prospect looks like he's up for the task.

Jeferson Quero off to a hot start in Venezuelan Winter League, vying for backup catcher role in 2026

Danny Jansen, whom the Brewers acquired at the 2025 trade deadline, is expected to become a free agent this offseason after Milwaukee inevitably declines his $12 million mutual option. Eric Haase will also be a free agent this offseason after spending two years in the Brewers' organization. That leaves a spot open at the backup catcher position for the 2026 season.

Prospect Jeferson Quero has long awaited his shot at the big leagues, and after a lengthy recovery from a torn labrum that kept him out for more than a year, he finally looks ready to make an impact at the major league level.

Back on Opening Day in 2024, Quero was knocking on MLB's door. He was the third-ranked prospect in the organization (he would later move to the top spot on MLB Pipeline's list of the top Brewers prospects), and set to start the year in Triple-A. Signs were pointing to Quero making his debut late in the 2024 season if all went according to plan. Well, things didn't go according to plan, as they never do. In his first game of the 2024 season, Quero tore his labrum sliding back into first base and missed the entire season, delaying his MLB debut indefinitely.

However, Quero returned with a vengeance in 2025. In 69 games, split between Rookie ball and Triple-A, the catching prospect slashed .271/.361/.478 with 11 HR, while reassuring Brewers fans that his incredible defensive acumen was not hampered too severely by his shoulder injury.

Despite being a part of the Brewers' taxi squad during the 2025 postseason, the presence of Jansen prevented Quero from making his debut this past season, but a strong start in the Venezuelan Winter League is making it even more likely that Quero will be a part of the Brewers' roster very early in the 2026 season. Last night, Quero collected his first 2025 Winter League at-bat in the bottom of the ninth inning for the Cardenales de Lara. He promptly crushed a walk-off homer to left field and sent his team home victorious.

Quero looks like the real deal, and with his shoulder fully healed, expect him to be an important part of the Brewers' plans in 2026. It's possible (and likely) that the team still signs a veteran catcher to a short-term deal, or even a minor league deal, to fill in for Quero at the beginning of the season if he's not yet ready or if the Brewers want to manipulate his service time. However, regardless of when he debuts, Quero is going to be an excellent big leaguer, and, assuming the team can't come to an agreement on an extension with Contreras, the Brewers' catcher of the future.