Bold statement: Opening Day isn’t guaranteed for Quinn Priester, and his season could start with a stint on the injured list—and that reality isn’t just a blip, it could reshape Milwaukee’s early plans. But here’s where it gets controversial: is delaying Priester a smart move or a missed opportunity to ride a rising arm out of spring training?
Quinn Priester’s readiness is in question as Brewers manager Pat Murphy indicated the right-hander is slightly behind in his spring buildup and not yet a lock for Opening Day. Priester ended last season with wrist soreness, though he avoided a lengthy IL stay and still contributed in two playoff appearances. To reduce the risk of flare-ups, Milwaukee chose a conservative offseason path, allowing extra time for the wrist to settle. He’s currently throwing, but there have been no spring game appearances yet.
The outlook suggests this is not viewed as a long-term issue. Priester is expected to get some game reps before camp ends, but it’s possible he won’t accumulate a full starter’s workload in the next three weeks. If he does land on the opening roster’s IL, Milwaukee could send him to the minors for a rehab start or two to ensure he’s truly ready. The plan would likely include only two missed turnarounds through the rotation if the IL stint is minimal.
Milwaukee acquired Priester in a mid-April trade with the Red Sox last year, a move that gave the then top prospect a fresh runway in a lineup battered by injuries. He seized the opportunity, delivering a 3.32 ERA over 157 1/3 innings. His numbers in terms of strikeouts and walks weren’t earth-shaking, but his sinker generated grounders 56.1% of the time, and he limited the majority of his appearances to three earned runs or fewer in 25 of 29 outings.
There’s also rotation intrigue beyond Priester. Brandon Woodruff is another question mark due to last year’s lat strain, and he appears more likely to start the season on the active roster if he can reach adequate stretch progress. Woodruff has been throwing batting practice and is set for a Cactus League debut on the weekend, according to Curt Hogg. If he’s sufficiently stretched out, Woodruff would be the obvious candidate to open the season on days one.
Jacob Misiorowski stands as the other pitcher seemingly locked into Milwaukee’s season-opening rotation. The flame-throwing rookie debuted in spring training against Great Britain in a World Baseball Classic exhibition, throwing 38 pitches over two innings with five strikeouts.
Beyond Priester and Woodruff, Milwaukee’s rotation competition includes Logan Henderson, Robert Gasser, Chad Patrick, and recent acquisitions Brandon Sproat and Kyle Harrison. The Brewers are expected to lean on a deep bullpen pool and use a flexible bullpen strategy, shuttling pitchers between Milwaukee and the minors as needed. The two pitchers who aren’t easily optioned are Woodruff and left-handed reliever Rob Zastryzny, making their roles particularly pivotal.
In short, Priester’s delay isn’t a non-story—it could determine the early tempo of Milwaukee’s season. The team is balancing the risk of rushing him back with the opportunity to ride a young arm into meaningful workload. As plans shift, one big question remains: should Milwaukee push Priester to contribute right away, or prioritize a careful reset to maximize long-term value? Share your take: do you think Milwaukee should push for a quick Opening Day comeback, or prioritize a cautious return to top form?
