Catcher of the Future Showdown: William Contreras vs. Jeferson Quero vs. Wes Clarke

William Contreras got a lot of honors in 2023, but those who follow the farm system are no doubt aware of Jeferson Quero, who will be 21 years old during the 2024 season. Quero, second only to Jackson Chourio on the MLB Pipeline and Brewer Fanatic top Brewers prospects lists, could be in Milwaukee in this season. Then there is Wes Clarke, who posted a monster season of his own alongside Quero and Chourio in Biloxi in 2023. Who will be the Crew’s catcher for the long term? Let’s look each of these players over.

The Case for William Contreras
Contreras was arguably one of the biggest trade steals in the history of the Brewers, acquired in a three-team trade involving the Oakland A’s and Atlanta Braves during the 2022-2023 offseason that also netted relief pitcher Joel Payamps and minor-league hurler Justin Yeager, for the paltry price of outfielder Esteury Ruiz.

Contreras was the team’s MVP for 2023, posting an ,825 OPS with 38 doubles, 17 home runs, and 78 RBI over 141 games (108 as catcher, 33 as designated hitter). While his bat always has been impressive, in Milwaukee, he improved on his defense, which had previously been considered a weakness.

Contreras brings the proven track record in making his case to be Milwaukee’s catcher. With an All-Star Game appearance, a Silver Slugger Award, and 11th-place finish in MVP voting in 2023, his résumé is extremely strong. But those very decorations also figured to make him expensive when he becomes arbitration-eligible, starting next winter. At that point, the Brewers' financial disadvantages start to enter the picture and influence decisions. The bankruptcy of Bally Sports is not likely to help matters for the short term.

Could the Crew extend Contreras? It’s possible, but it would be pricey. Contreras might be dealt, although probably not for at least two years, and he could fetch a huge return given his level of performance.

The Case for Jeferson Quero
Jeferson Quero was not as highly-touted as other prospects in the July 2019 international free agent class, but the young catcher has been a huge hit. His defense was already strong, and Quero has minor-league Gold Glove awards for that, but it became obvious that his bat wasn’t horrible, either.

Indeed, at just 20, Quero posted a .779 OPS in Biloxi in 2023, after racking up a .781 OPS between Low-A Carolina and High-A Wisconsin in 2022, combining for 26 homers in those years. Quero’s OBP skills have also improved, making him a legit threat at the plate.

If there is a question mark for Quero, it’s his health. He has made trips to the injured list in each of his professional seasons, playing only 23 of 54 games in 2021, 95 out of 130 in 2022, and 95 out of 137 in 2023.

That being said, Quero could be locked up in a manner similar to Chourio, giving Milwaukee long-term stability at the position that hasn’t been since since Jonathan Lucroy was with the Crew. At the very least, he will factor into their plans before this season is over--be it as a backup to Contreras, an injury stopgap, or a potential trade chip.

The Case for Wes Clarke
Clarke was not on many people's radar screens at the start of 2023. That was understandable, given his pedigree: he was a 10th-round pick in 2021. From the beginning, though, Clarke’s offensive profile carried some intrigue. He draws his walks, and generates huge power on contact, at the expense of many strikeouts. But while many think of him as a first baseman, he is arguably going to be the third-best catcher in Maryvale this spring – even with MLB vets Eric Haase and Austin Nola there alongside minor-league veteran Brian Navarreto.

In 2023, Clarke broke out big-time, as noted when we discussed him and fellow under-the-radar first base prospect Ernesto Martinez. He outperformed Chourio in multiple statistical categories, and then performed well in the Arizona Fall League, earning an invitation to spring training with the Brewers.

Clarke primarily has played first base, but over the last two campaigns, he's spent a lot of time filling in behind the plate, proving very capable when Quero was on the injured list. He made the fringe of the MLB Pipeline top prospect list during the Crew’s flurry of offseason deals.

If there is a knock to his performance behind the plate, it is that he doesn’t make runners scared of the potential consequences of attempting larceny on the basepaths, with only a 10% caught stealing rate in 2023. He had higher rates in 2021 and 2022, but in this area, he is clearly a step behind Quero. Still, he’s not a bad option behind the plate, albeit he is a bat-first option. Then again, so was Contreras when the Crew acquired him.

Overview
The Brewers may not be set at catcher, but that is not due to a lack of talent at that position. If anything, they have a lot of good options to feel totally locked into any one of them in the long term. That said, the team’s need for help at designated hitter and first base could ease the logjam. Brewers fans should not be surprised if all three of these players are on the team’s major-league roster at some point in 2024, but they also shouldn’t be surprised if the team makes a deal involving one of these players for help elsewhere, be it soon or in 2025 or 2026.