It has not taken long for the Milwaukee Brewers’ top international signing in 2021 to graduate from the lower levels of the minor leagues. Jackson Chourio, who signed for $1.8 million out of Venezuela, has been stationed in Double-A Biloxi for the first half of his age-19 season. He is one of the minor league’s fastest players but his tools extend well beyond speed. Chourio’s versatile skillset has led MLB to rank him as the third overall prospect.
Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 60 | Run: 70 | Arm: 45 | Field: 60 | Overall: 60
Debut and Breakout
After joining the Brewers organization, Chourio was sent to the Dominican Summer League in 2021. He performed well, posting an OPS of .833 with five home runs. Chourio’s breakout, however, came the following season. He began the year tearing up the Single-A Carolina League, hitting .324 and blasting 12 homers in 62 games. This prompted a July promotion to High-A Wisconsin where Chourio cooled off slightly. His average dropped to .252 but he continued to hit for power with eight long balls in 31 contests. Chourio moved up a level once more for a week in Double-A at the end of the year. He struggled in his brief stint, going 2-for-23 with 11 strikeouts.
Strengths
In 2023, Chourio has made strides at Double-A Biloxi. Through his first 71 games, he is slashing .249/.304/.410 with 25 extra base hits. Though these numbers are relatively pedestrian in the Southern League, Chourio is doing this at 19 years of age. It is a promising sign to see him make the necessary adjustments in Double-A, commonly considered the most challenging jump in the minors. Scouts rave about Chourio’s ability to use all fields and his hit tool should continue to develop as he gains experience.
Chourio is one of the most athletic prospects in baseball. Initially, he was signed as a shortstop but has since moved to the centerfield. His elite speed has made the transition seamless, and he now grades out as an above-average centerfielder.
In 2023, Chourio has stolen 23 bases so far. This is already a career-high for the outfielder and he has been thrown out just three times. After stealing 16 bases last season, it appears Chourio is getting a better feel for running and using more of his 70-grade speed. His combination of power and base-stealing prowess has led some to compare him to NL MVP frontrunner Ronald Acuña Jr.
Jackson Chourio just lifted a ball 422 feet to right center for a home run. Previous at bat was a 112 mph double to left. The power is for real, the speed is for real.
He’s 19 for the entire year and won’t be 20 until weeks before the 2024 season begins. pic.twitter.com/NSO5R9o8QT
— Beck (@Upper_Beck) July 7, 2023
Weaknesses
If there is one area where Chourio is lacking, it is his plate discipline. There is a considerable amount of swing and miss in his game, as he struck out 118 times in 99 games in 2022. Chourio has shown some improvement this year but he still has over three times as many strikeouts as walks. This has caused his OBP to drop at each new level, which is to be expected. However, Chourio’s .304 OBP this year limits the opportunities he gets to put his speed to use on the bases. Jackson Chourio is very young to be playing in Double-A so growing pains are expected. As he continues to develop, improving his plate discipline can significantly raise his high ceiling.
Photo Credit- Curt Hogg-USA TODAY Network
Players Mentioned- Jackson Chourio
