MILWAUKEE — Jackson Chourio‘s first career grand slam marked yet another memorable moment and certainly added an exclamation point to what’s turned into a breakout month for the Milwaukee Brewers’ highly-touted rookie outfielder. But how Chourio put himself in position for that mighty blast is perhaps the most significant sign yet that he is coming into his own.
With the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth inning against Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon, Chourio chased a sinker inside and then a sweeper in the dirt to fall behind, 0-2. Taillon followed with a sweeper away and at the knees that Chourio got just enough of to foul off then laid off a 94.5 MPH heater high to bring the count to 1-2.
When Taillon hung his next offering, an 81 MPH sweeper, right over the plate, Jackson Chourio was ready and sent it 377 feet to left, clearing the bases for a grand slam and giving the Brewers all the runs they’d need for a 4-2 victory over their arch-rivals from just across the Wisconsin-Illinois border Friday night at American Family Field.
? GRAND SLAM ALERT ?
Jackson Chourio sends a drive to left and the #Brewers take a 4-2 lead over the Cubs!#ThisIsMyCrew | #MLB pic.twitter.com/H9GdApGrTJ
— Bally Sports Wisconsin (@BallySportWI) June 29, 2024
“The kid is learning,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “He’s made the most of his opportunities lately.”
Chourio certainly has. With two hits Friday night, he’s now 21-for-64 over his last 21 games and has three doubles, four home runs, 15 RBI, and 12 runs scored during that same stretch.
“Every single day I feel a little bit better,” Chourio said.
Jackson Chourio’s Rise Continues with Grand Slam
Expectations were already high after Chourio rose quickly through Milwaukee’s farm system. Two years after signing as an international free agent in January 2021, Chourio rose to the ranking of the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball. So impressive was his rise that the Brewers signed him to an eight-year, $82 million contract before he played a single big-league game, raising expectations for the 20-year-old even higher.
Chourio got off to an impressive start, collecting seven hits including his first career home run while driving in four over his first five games, and he had a respectable slash line of .259/.305/.444 with a .750 OPS through his first 13 games.
But as is often the case with young players, the good times didn’t last. Chourio batted just .140 (6-for-43) to close out the month of April. This led to a reduction in playing time that Murphy said at the time was meant to give Chourio “perspective.” How Chourio handled it made an impression on the Brewers’ skipper.
“(He) Never complained,” Murphy said. “(He) Never shook his head and said ‘Why me?’ Never was disgusted. Never lost his effort. Never stopped working. That’s what’s beautiful about it.”
The results weren’t immediate. Chourio’s struggles continued throughout May, but as the Milwaukee weather now starts to heat up, so too is Chourio.
“He’s going to get there,” Murphy said. “He’s going to have some ups and downs — we know how tough baseball is — but he’s really been great the last few weeks.”
Same Old, Same Old
Chourio’s latest heroics helped earn Colin Rea his seventh victory of the season. The veteran right-hander provided yet another solid effort, allowing just a pair of runs on three hits and two walks while striking out a career-high eight batters over 5 1/3 innings.
From there, it was kind of a “more of the same” for the Brewers, who’ve seen a similar script play out over the vast majority of their 49 victories this season; just enough starting pitching to keep a game close, an aggressive and opportunistic approach at the plate and on the basepaths, a big hit at just the right time followed by lockdown efforts from a cadre of relievers before Trevor Megill comes on to close it out.
Final: Brewers 4, Cubs 2
W — Rea (7-2)
L — Taillon (4-4)
S — Megill (17)HR- Suzuki (10), Chourio (9)
MKE 49-33 | CHC 38-45⁰
A — 39,298 | T — 2:24 pic.twitter.com/4rM2wXaB5F— Andrew Wagner (@ByAndrewWagner) June 29, 2024
Jared Koenig was especially impressive Friday. Taking over with the bases loaded and two out in the seventh, he needed just one pitch to get out of the inning then came back out in the eighth and struck out the side. After stranding three runners, he’s now inherited 22 runners on the season and has only allowed four to score.
“He wants it,” Murphy said. “All those big situations, he’s at least given himself a chance to be successful.”
Decision Time Looming
Garrett Mitchell‘s minor-league rehab assignment will hit its 20-day limit on Saturday, which leaves the team with a decision on whether to bring him up or keep him at Triple-A Nashville for more conditioning.
In 11 games with Nashville, the former first-round pick is slashing .310/.408/.643 with four home runs, nine RBIs, six walks, three stolen bases, and a 1.051 OPS.
Injury Report
- RHP Devin Williams will throw another bullpen session Saturday as he continues working his way back from stress fractures in his back that have sidelined him since spring training. He’ll throw at least one more bullpen after that. If all goes well, he will throw live batting practice when the Brewers return from their upcoming road trip.
- LHP DL Hall will make another rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Nashville. He will likely throw around 55 pitches over four innings. The Brewers have yet to decide whether they’ll continue stretching Hall out to return to the starting rotation or use him in a multi-inning role out of the bullpen.
Up Next
Craig Counsell‘s second trip back to his hometown as manager of the Cubs was no more welcoming than the first. The crowd of 39,298 booed Counsell enthusiastically, still bitter over his departure after nine seasons on the home bench. Expect the boos to grow even louder Saturday afternoon when Brewers righty Tobias Myers (5-2, 3.12 ERA) faces Chicago left-hander Justin Steele (0-3, 3.08) for Game 2 of the three-game set.
Photo Credit: © Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
