WASHINGTON -- For a second straight rehab start, it was control issues that struck Quinn Priester.
The right-hander, who is on a rehab assignment while recovering from thoracic outlet syndrome, went two-plus innings in his third start, facing one batter in the third inning of Triple-A Nashville’s 6-5 loss to Norfolk on Friday. The Brewers had hoped Priester would need just three starts at Triple-A before being ready to rejoin the Major League rotation. At this point that’s looking like a long shot.
Priester threw 62 pitches (37 strikes) vs. the Tides, facing 16 batters -- eight in the first, seven in the second and one in the third -- while allowing five runs on seven hits (one homer) and two walks. That lengthy first inning began with a four-pitch walk, a stolen base and a fielder’s choice that resulted in zero outs. It only spiraled from there.
But there are some positives: The velocity on Priester’s sinker was up a tick from his previous start, topping off at 92.8 mph (up from 92 mph on April 26) -- that’s closer to the 93.2 mph his sinker averaged in 2025.
And that’s what the Brewers are focused on. With an injury like Priester’s, the main goal is for him to regain his feel of the baseball and of his pitches. The numbers will come later … though the pitch velo is a good first step.
“When you have this type of injury, it affects your feel of the baseball,” manager Pat Murphy said prior to the Crew’s game against the Nationals on Saturday. “So what we’re trying to do is get him in shape, and hopefully that feeling comes back at the same time. But we’re encouraged by what we see, because he’s able to recover and feel good about at least that he got to a pitch count.
“Now we just keep going. The results don’t matter at this point. … The velo seemed like it was not quite there, but it’s getting close -- which is just one factor. But we just keep seeing if he can keep progressing. This is a difficult thing to get through, but we think he will in time. That’s what we need. We need time.”
Pitchers can remain on a rehab assignment for up to 30 days, so there’s some leeway, as Priester was sent to Nashville on April 22.