Quero honored with Minors Gold Glove Award

MILWAUKEE -- One of baseball's top-catching prospects took a break from rehabbing in the Arizona heat for a reminder of why he's working so hard to come back from shoulder surgery.

Jeferson Quero, MLB Pipeline's No. 2 Brewers prospect and No. 25 overall, was at American Family Field and was presented with the Rawlings Gold Glove Award that he won as the top Minor League catcher last season. It's an exclusive honor; there are 120 affiliates and only one player is awarded for each position.

"I'm really proud of myself because I worked hard last year to get the results on the field," Quero said, with Brewers coach Nestor Corredor translating from Spanish.

Quero flashed his sensational throwing arm during a stint in Brewer's big league camp, only to be injured in the first inning of Triple-A Nashville's season. Quero worked a walk, was picked off first base and in the process of sliding headfirst back to the bag, he dislocated his right shoulder and suffered a torn labrum. Unfortunately, that is Quero's throwing shoulder.

After considering various options, including a non-surgical route, Quero opted for surgery in mid-April with an eye on returning completely healthy by 2025 Spring Training.

"It's been two months, and day by day, it looks better, and I feel better," Quero said. "It's taking a little bit slower with the arm. I'm working out the rest of the body but the arm is moving slowly. I'm feeling better day by day.

"They want to take it slow but firm. The goal is to be ready by Spring Training next year."

He's relied on his religious faith to cope with the disappointment of being sidelined so early in a season in which he was positioned to make his Major League debut.

"It was very disappointing because I was injured on Opening Day, and I had a lot of goals for this year," said Quero. "But it happens in the game. Injuries are part of the game. Hopefully, next year, I can come back stronger and do it one more time."

Brewers farm director Tom Flanagan was struck by how fit Quero appeared when he arrived on Friday. It was promising to see a young player commit to staying in shape while waiting for his arm to heal, Flanagan said.

Originally, a representative from Rawlings planned to present Quero his award at the team's complex in Phoenix. But Flanagan intervened, believing it could lift the player's spirits to visit Milwaukee and be recognized by teammates and fans. Even better, Quero's father happened to be visiting from Venezuela and came along.

"He'll get through it," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. "You know, I worry about that surgery. I've had it myself a number of times and I can't imagine being able to throw with [that] arm again after going through it. But I know they're much better at it now. His arm is elite. … You just hope and pray that he comes back close to that. If he threw at 90 percent of what he did, he'd still be elite."