On Opening Day, Jackson Chuorio will become the youngest player for the Milwaukee Brewers since Robin Yount did so in 1974. He will be the third-youngest player to start at a position since 1900 if he starts in center field.
Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal reports that he has heard from sources indicating that the Brewers’ Opening Day roster would include the 20-year-old outfielder, who is now the second-ranked prospect in all of baseball.
Since Yount’s historic debut at age 18, only two players have made Opening Day appearances for the Brewers before turning 21: Kevin Kobel in 1974 (20 years, 185 days) and Gary Sheffield in 20 years, 136 days.
Chourio’s ascent to the major leagues was heralded in December when he inked the largest-ever $82 million contract for a player who had not yet made his major league debut. However, he made an impression in spring, and he now has great hopes. Pat Murphy, the manager, believes the young outfielder can handle the limelight.
“I don’t think anyone handles (expectations) seamlessly the right way,” Murphy stated. However, I believe that he will manage it just fine overall since I believe.
Chourio, who was awarded a minor league Gold Glove the previous season, is anticipated to play center field for the majority of his games. He only participated in six Triple-A games while in the minor levels, but he was a dominant Double-A pitcher. Over 559 plate appearances, he amassed a.280/.336/.467 slash line that included 22 home runs and 43 steals.
He is 14-for-49 (.286 batting average) through 14 games in spring, with two walks, three doubles, three runs batted in, eight runs scored, and eleven strikeouts. As per Hogg, Chourio will be the youngest player since Sheffield, who made his debut as a 19-year-old in 1988, and the sixth-youngest player to appear in any Brewers game.
