The Milwaukee Brewers have called up their top catching prospect.
The Brewers have tabbed catcher Jeferson Quero for his MLB debut, according to Daniel Alvarez-Montes of El Extrabase.
A corresponding move wasn’t officially reported yet. However, MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy reported that first baseman Andrew Vaughn is headed for the injured list due to a hand injury.
Update: Bob Nightengale of USA Today has reported that Vaughn broke his hamate bone in his hand and could be out until May.
Vaughn locked up the first base job for Opening Day, but will now head to the IL. He had one hit in four at-bats on Opening Day.
Vaughn is coming off a solid season with Milwaukee. After the Chicago White Sox traded him to the Brewers for pitcher Aaron Civale, Vaughn hit .308 in 64 games, driving in 46 runs with an .869 OPS.
Who Is Jeferson Quero of the Milwaukee Brewers?
Quero was an international signing out of Venezuela. He made his minor league debut in 2021.
His 2023 put him on the map officially. During 90 games in Double-A, Quero would hit .262 with 16 home runs and a .779 OPS, while flashing elite defensive tools.
That season was enough to place him as the No. 35 prospect on MLB Pipeline. Since then, injuries have deafened a loud start to his career.
He played in just one game in 2024 due to a major shoulder injury that required surgery. He would still be a top 50 prospect in baseball pre-2025, but would struggle to stay healthy, playing just 69 games due to a hamstring injury.
Between Triple-A and the Arizona Complex League during the 2025 season, Quero hit .271 with 11 home runs and an .839 OPS.
However, his injury woes had caught up to him on the defensive side, as his arm strength had significantly declined following the shoulder surgery.
That caused him to fall out of the top 100 prospects pre-2026. As of his call-up, Quero is the eighth-best Brewers prospect in what is a terrific farm system.
Because of this, Quero might be underrated at this point. He hasn’t necessarily had a bad offensive season. If he can regain his defensive ability, there’s a chance for him to really shine with the Brewers.
Where Does Quero Fit on the Roster?
Quero will not be the starting catcher in Milwaukee barring injury. That much we know.
Catcher William Contreras is one of the best in the game on both sides of the ball. However, Quero could make a run for the backup job.
As of now, the Brewers will be carrying three catchers on their roster after the Vaughn injury. That’s unusual roster construction for this early in the season.
Backup catcher Gary Sánchez, as a veteran presence, makes the timing of this move extremely confusing. Considering that Sánchez and Quero are both right-handed batters, no platoon move would make sense.
While it’s unclear how long Vaughn will be out for, it’s possible that Sánchez could see some reps at first base, with Quero as the backup catcher.
However, lefty Jake Bauers is more likely to see work at first base due to his experience at the position (233 starts).
Quero has all the talent to succeed in the majors. However, he needs to stay healthy to achieve this, and the Brewers certainly hope he can at this juncture.
Brewers Call up Top Catching Prospect, Place Vaughn on IL