The Brewers are close to signing top prospect Jackson Chourio (MLB Pipeline’s No. 2 overall pick) to a long-term deal, a source told MLB.com. The club has not confirmed the deal, the physical completion is still pending.
Chourio’s contract is expected to be guaranteed for eight years, with two club options, but the teams have yet to agree on the money. MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported that it was close to $80 million. It would be the richest deal signed by a player with zero years of MLB service time, eclipsing Luis Robert Jr.’s $50 million contract with the White Sox. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (subscription required) was first to report that the Brewers were discussing a contract with Chourio on Tuesday.
There have only been five such signings so far:
Chourio wouldn’t be the first prospect to sign a long-term contract extension with the Brewers, although he would be the first to do so before setting foot in the majors. In July 2022, the Brewers and left-hander Aaron Ashby agreed to a five-year, $20.5 million contract when Ashby had logged just 100 2/3 major league innings. Those terms were based on the five-year, $15.5 million contract between the Brewers and right-hander Freddy Peralta in February 2020, when Peralta had just over a year of major league service time.
And those deals followed Ryan Braun’s first of two contract extensions with the Brewers. The first, an eight-year, $45 million contract in 2008, came less than a year after his major league debut, when Braun was the reigning NL Rookie of the Year Award winner.
An extension for Chourio could be significant in either paving the way to an early call-up once Chourio logs additional Triple-A time, or a direct jump to Milwaukee’s Opening Day roster, which currently features outfielders like the experienced Christian Yelich and Tyrone Taylor is cast with Garrett Mitchell, Sal Frelick and Joey Wiemer. The designated hitter opens at-bats, but only to a point.
If the Brewers are young at the start of the year – infielder Tyler Black is being considered for third base or first base, both of which are currently wide open – then that could also impact the club’s plans to short some of their players facing release agency. For example, star right-hander Corbin Burnes and shortstop Willy Adames only have one more year left in control of the club. Closer Devin Williams still has two years left.
The Brewers have high hopes for Chourio, a five-player prospect who has posted an .837 OPS in three minor league seasons, mostly as the youngest player in his league. Chourio hit a career-high 22 home runs during the 2023 season, which he spent primarily at Double-A Biloxi. He then continued to hit in the Venezuelan Winter League, where he hit .379/.453/.530 in 17 games before ending the season. He doesn’t turn 20 until March 11th.
A native of Maracaibo, Venezuela, Chourio has quickly established himself in the Milwaukee system since signing with the team as an amateur free agent in 2021. He was originally a shortstop but has been a full-time outfielder since 2022.
According to MLB Pipeline, Chourio has a combination of impressive tools, including three (70-degree speed, 60-degree power and 60-degree fielding) that score 60 or better on the 20-80 scouting scale .