Brewers No. 5 Prospect Seemingly Has No Shot at Opening Day Roster

Jeferson Quero faces uphill battle to make Milwaukee's roster with veteran Gary Sánchez signing

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The Milwaukee Brewers' top catching prospect, Jeferson Quero, is facing an uphill battle to make the team's opening day roster after the club signed veteran catcher Gary Sánchez to a one-year deal. Quero, who ranked fifth on MLB Pipeline's list of top Brewers prospects, was previously expected to compete for the backup catcher role behind William Contreras. However, the Sánchez signing has seemingly pushed Quero out of the picture, with reports indicating he may need more minor league seasoning before getting a shot at the big-league roster.

Why it matters

Quero is one of the Brewers' top young talents, and his development is crucial for the team's long-term success. However, the presence of Contreras, an established major league catcher, and the addition of Sánchez make it difficult for Quero to crack the opening day roster. This situation highlights the challenges young prospects face when trying to break into the majors, especially at a position like catcher where playing time is limited.

The details

The Brewers signed veteran catcher Gary Sánchez to a one-year contract earlier this week, which has seemingly pushed Jeferson Quero out of the picture for the backup catcher role. Quero, the Brewers' fifth-ranked prospect, was previously expected to compete for the job behind William Contreras. However, reports now indicate the Brewers may opt to send Quero back to the minors to get more seasoning, with Sánchez likely to serve as Contreras' backup to start the season.

  • The Brewers signed Gary Sánchez to a one-year contract earlier this week.
  • Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reporter JR Radcliffe left Quero off his projected 26-man roster on Friday.

The players

Jeferson Quero

The Brewers' fifth-ranked prospect, a 23-year-old Venezuelan-born catcher.

William Contreras

The Brewers' starting catcher, an established major league player.

Gary Sánchez

A veteran power-hitting catcher signed by the Brewers to a one-year contract.

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What they’re saying

“The question at this position group is whether the Brewers hand top-prospect Quero the backup reins. Still 23 years old and coming off a partial season after missing all of 2024, there's some wisdom to getting him just a bit more seasoning.”

— JR Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reporter (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

“The Brewers have been quiet in the free-agent market this offseason, even by even their standards, so the recent addition of Sánches indicates he's probably getting every chance to win that spot.”

— JR Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reporter (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

What’s next

The Brewers will need to decide whether to keep Quero on the major league roster as Contreras' backup or send him back to the minors for more development. Contreras is due to become a free agent after the 2027 season, so the Brewers will also need to consider long-term plans for their catching position.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the challenges young prospects face when trying to break into the majors, especially at a position like catcher where playing time is limited. The Brewers will need to carefully weigh Quero's development needs against the team's short-term roster needs as they determine the best path forward for their top catching prospect.