MINNEAPOLIS -- Quinn Priester's second rehab assignment began much like the first, which wasn’t great news for a pitcher trying to get on track during a season delayed by thoracic outlet syndrome.
The Brewers right-hander surrendered more hits (five) and earned runs (seven) than he recorded outs (four) in a start for High-A Wisconsin on Saturday against South Bend in Grand Chute, Wis. All of the runs came during a long top of the second inning in which Priester surrendered four singles, issued a pair of run-scoring walks and threw a wild pitch.
It was the same lack of command that caused the Brewers to pull the plug on Priester’s first rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville, in which he surrendered nine earned runs on seven hits, eight walks, two hit batters and a wild pitch in three starts from April 22-May 1.
The Brewers returned him from rehab after a third outing with the Sounds and hoped a period of rest would help the 25-year-old reset. But instead, he threw 23 of 47 pitches for strikes on the day.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy watched the live broadcast of Priester’s outing.
“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’s symptoms began with wrist soreness last August. They persisted into the spring to the point he traveled to Dallas in March to see vascular surgeon Dr. Gregory Pearl, who confirmed a diagnosis of TOS, a condition in which nerves and blood vessels in the lower part of the neck are compressed, resulting in pain, weakness, fatigue and numbness or tingling in the arm or hand.
Sometimes, a player requires surgery to remove the first rib and relieve pressure, a procedure known as decompression surgery. Phillies ace Zack Wheeler underwent that procedure last September, for example, and was back throwing bullpens six months later.
The Brewers and Pearl believed that Priester could recover without surgery. They still believe that, Murphy said.
“We would have the procedure if we didn’t think he could do it,” Murphy said.
Priester was a bright spot for the Brewers in 2025, going 13-3 with a 3.55 ERA after Milwaukee acquired him in April of that season from Boston while Priester was pitching in Triple-A. Over one stretch, the Brewers won 19 consecutive games in which he pitched.