One of the biggest storylines in baseball this season is the loaded rookie class. And in a group with tremendous talent, the youngest player among them could end up being the best of the bunch.

Meet Jackson Chourio

In the town of Maracaibo, Venezuela — which has yielded many big leaguers, including Hall of Fame shortstop Luis Aparicio — the Milwaukee Brewers found a young, wiry outfielder by the name of Jackson Chourio. And even though the 20-year-old is just 10 games into his major-league career, the Brewers believe that he will one day be the face of their franchise.

Early Signs of Greatness

“Something told me, ‘This is going to be a special kid,’” Brewers field coordinator Nestor Corredor, who met Chourio when he was 17, told Yahoo Sports. “The way he approaches the game, the way he takes care of business, the way the ball sounds off his bat — there’s something special coming out.”

Key Takeaways

The Brewers signed Chourio out of Venezuela at the age of 16 in 2021, and he wasted no time showing what he could do on the diamond. After arriving in the U.S., Chourio rocketed through Milwaukee’s system and was not only the youngest player at each level but also the best. In three seasons in the minors, Chourio slashed .286/.347/.490 while showing an elite combination of power and speed and becoming a true five-tool player. Since his pro career began in ‘21, he has gone from a relative unknown to the top of every prospect list in the game. He’s currently considered the No. 2 prospect in all of baseball, behind only the Orioles’ Jackson Holliday, who made his big-league debut on Wednesday.

Rapid Rise to the Majors

This past winter, Milwaukee signed Chourio to an eight-year, $82 million extension, the largest contract ever signed before a player’s MLB debut. With the monster extension complete, the expectation was for the Brewers’ top prospect to make the team out of spring training.

Challenges and Growth

“I wanted to do everything I possibly could to make this team. I think the biggest thing I tried to do during the winter was get my body right and to prepare for a full season here. I wanted to be ready,” Chourio said.

Looking Ahead

Corredor, who joined the Brewers’ major-league coaching staff in 2021, is also from Venezuela and managed Chourio this past offseason in the Venezuelan Winter League. Through that experience, the two built a relationship, with Corredor trying to be a sounding board for his countryman as Chourio prepared to navigate his first major-league season.