Brewers Acquire 24-Year-Old Former Top Prospect in Trade with Red Sox

Can Milwaukee turn this right-hander into a key rotation piece?

The Milwaukee Brewers’ starting pitching has struggled early in the 2025 season, and they’re taking action to address the issue.

Through 10 games, Brewers starters have posted a 5.18 ERA, ranking as the seventh-worst in Major League Baseball. They’ve also given up a league-high 16 home runs, including nine in their opening series against the New York Yankees.

While the sample size is still small and panic isn’t necessary, the reality is that the Brewers lack reliable starters to fill out their rotation. Outside of ace Freddy Peralta, it’s uncertain which pitchers will maintain their spots.

This seems to have prompted the Brewers to add another arm to the mix on Monday.

According to multiple reports, including Hunter Noll from Beyond the Monster, the Brewers have acquired right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for outfielder Yophery Rodriguez, a player to be named later, and cash considerations.

Priester, 24, was a first-round pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2019 and was once considered a Top-100 prospect in all of baseball. He made his MLB debut in 2023 but struggled to secure a regular role, leading to his trade to Boston last July for infielder Nick Yorke.

Priester spent most of last season in Triple-A but made a September debut for the Red Sox and entered spring training with a chance to earn a rotation spot. However, he lost the competition to lefty Sean Newcomb and began the 2025 season in the minors.

Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 210 pounds, Priester has a six-pitch arsenal and gained velocity over the winter, reaching 97 miles per hour during spring training. He allowed two earned runs and struck out six in four innings during his first start of the season with the Worcester Red Sox.

Rodriguez, 19, was ranked as the Brewers’ No. 7 prospect by MLB Pipeline. A left-handed outfielder with a smooth swing, he had a strong start to the season at High-A Wisconsin.

While Priester could theoretically join the Brewers’ rotation immediately, it’s unclear if that’s part of Milwaukee’s plan. The Brewers are known for getting the best out of their pitchers, both experienced and young, so it’s reasonable to expect Priester to develop further in their system.