The sky is the limit for rising 18-year-old Milwaukee Brewers prospect Jackson Chourio.
“Jackson Chourio up to the number two prospect in all of baseball according to Baseball America,” Bucks and Brewers sports reporter Ti Windisch recently posted on Twitter. “The hype is not just within Wisconsin. I’ve never been this excited about a prospect before.”
The Brewers brought in the Venezuelan shortstop at age 16 as an international free agent with a $1.9 million signing bonus. Chourio currently ranks second in prospects behind Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson. He played for the Carolina Mudcats this season and was selected to participate in the MLB Futures Game, after posting a .324 batting average with 12 homers and 47 RBI.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Chourio is the youngest player to participate in the MLB Futures Game and to advance to the Class A level after being promoted to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, where he has hit .275 over his first 12 games in the new league.
He quickly ascended through the Brewers’ system, becoming the team’s No. 1 prospect earlier in the season after being rated 36th overall by MLB.com in July. His first professional experience came last season when he hit .296 with five home runs and 25 runs batted in over 45 games for one of Milwaukee’s entries in the Dominican Summer League.
Baseball America was among those that took notice, writing in its Top 100 report:
“The 18-year-old Venezuelan has been the breakout player of the minors, reaching High-A Wisconsin at an age when his peers are still in the Rookie-level complex leagues. With advanced hitting ability, explosive power, plus-plus speed and highlight-reel defense in center field, he has the tools to be a future superstar.”
