The Milwaukee Brewers have inked their top prospect, nineteen-year-old center fielder Jackson Chourio to an eight-year, $82MM contract with two club options. This deal is the highest given to a player with no big league experience since Luis Robert Jr. signed to a six-year, $50MM contract with the Chicago White Sox in 2020.
Brewers’ Jackson Chourio Ready to Meet Expectations
The Venezuelan native put pen to paper on Monday, when it was officially announced by the Brewers and Chourio received his jersey sporting No. 11.
The Brewers are taking huge risks with signing a player who hasn’t even made his major league debut to a lengthy contract, but with a player like Jackson Chourio, it might be worth it in the end.
As stated above, Chourio signed to an eight-year, $82MM contract, keeping the outfielder under team control until 2031. The agreement also includes club options for 2032 and 2033, and he could be paid as much as $142.5MM with added incentives.
Milwaukee held an official press conference on Monday announcing the contract, and how they’re certain their future is going to be built around Chourio and the future prospects that could be potentially making their major league debut as early as next season. Brewers’ General Manager Matt Arnold said in a press release that the organization was excited to make this deal, saying Chourio is “one of the elite young prospects in all of baseball.”
“We are extremely exciting to make this unprecedented commitment to a player we believe to be a generational talent who has all the tools to be the face of our franchise,” Arnold said. “We are thrilled to have Jackson in a Brewers uniform for many years to come.”
Chourio said he’s going to meet expectations that the organization sets for him, stated that he’s ready for the challenge.
“There’s definitely a little bit of pressure on this, but I’m just going to work really hard,” Chourio said through a translator. “This money is not going to change me. If something changes, it definitely will be for the better.”
Chourio got a little emotional when he talked about the people who helped him reach where he is today, including his younger brothers — Jaison Chourio, who’s playing with the Cleveland organization, and Jame Antony Chourio, who’s working his way to be a top prospect himself.
“I want to be an example for them,” Chourio said, talking about his brothers.
An Outlook Towards 2024
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2023 was a great year for Chourio, climbing up the MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects to No. 2, and had a career-high 22 home runs, 43 stolen bases and an .805 OPS. He also was named the Brewers’ Minor League Player of the Year for the second consecutive year.
He finished out his year in the Venezuelan Winter League, where he slashed .379/.453/.530 with just eight strikeouts in 75 plate appearances.
Chourio’s agent, Cesar Suarez, said that “every challenge that we presented to him, he’s always excelled.”
Jackson Chourio could very well start his 2024 season in the big leagues. He only played six games above Double-A, Arnold said while nothing is guaranteed, “he’ll have every opportunity to make our Opening Day team.”
“I think he has a very good chance, but he has to earn it a little bit, you know?” Suarez said of Chourio. “I don’t think they’re going to give it to him. Just come to Spring Training like you’re a starter [and earn it]. He’s going to do it. We know the talents.”
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