Brewers' Quinn Priester to have season-ending surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Quinn Priester will undergo season-ending surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, with the procedure scheduled for Monday in Dallas. The 25-year-old pitcher is expected to be sidelined for eight to 10 months following the thoracic outlet decompression surgery, which will be performed by surgeon Dr. Gregory Pearl and involve the removal of the first upper rib on the right side.

Thoracic outlet syndrome is a disorder in which blood vessels or nerves in the space between the collarbone and first rib become compressed, causing neck and shoulder pain, numbness or tingling in the fingers, and arm weakness. Priester exhausted non-surgical treatment options before deciding to proceed with surgery. During five rehabilitation games at Triple-A Nashville, two in Arizona, and one at High-A Wisconsin, he posted a 15.75 ERA and 2.88 WHIP in 16 innings, with 24 walks, 18 strikeouts, four hit batters, and six wild pitches. The pitcher attributed these difficulties to nerve compression affecting communication between his brain and arm, making it nearly impossible to produce repeatable results.

Priester was a cornerstone of the Brewers' rotation last season, compiling a 13-3 record with a 3.32 ERA in 29 appearances including 24 starts, helping lead the team to the National League Championship Series before losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has not pitched in the majors this season. The Brewers recalled him from his minor league rehabilitation assignment on June 12 to evaluate next steps in his recovery.

Despite the lengthy recovery timeline, Priester expressed confidence in his comeback. "I'm still a pretty young guy that may be able to make that a little bit quicker, be diligent with the work and be ready to compete for a spot in spring training next year," he said. He hopes to compete for a rotation spot when he returns. Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler underwent the same procedure in September 2025 and made an earlier-than-expected return, making his debut this season on April 25 with a 6-1 record and 2.01 ERA, providing a precedent for potential expedited recovery.