Jackson Chourio has made the Milwaukee Brewers opening day roster, sources say

PHOENIX – Jackson Chourio is set to make history.

Chourio will be the youngest Milwaukee Brewers player since Robin Yount to make his MLB debut on opening day. The 20-year-old outfielder and second-ranked prospect in all of baseball will make the Brewers opening day roster, sources told the Journal Sentinel.

If Chourio starts in center field on March 28 against the New York Mets at Citi Field, he will be the third-youngest player to start at the position on opening day since 1900.

It is a move that many anticipated when Chourio signed an eight-year, $82 million extension, the most ever for a player yet to appear in the majors, in December, yet it was far from a sure thing entering spring training with a crowded outfield picture in Milwaukee.

But Chourio, despite some troubles on defense, has impressed the Brewers with his ability to hold his own at the plate against big-league caliber pitching as well as his mental makeup.

Chourio, a native of Venezuela, has torn up the minor leagues since signing as an amateur in 2021. He has batted .286 with a .347 on-base percentage and .490 slugging percentage through 272 games in the minors, socking 47 homers and stealing 68 bases.

Large expectations have been thrust upon Chourio not only because of his lofty prospect status, but also his contract. The Brewers have expressed confidence in Chourio's mature ability to handle the expectations that come with the territory he is in.

“I don’t think anyone handles (expectations) seamlessly the right way,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “But I think overall he will handle it just fine because I think he cares more about being good than being rich.”

Chourio will likely spend most of his playing time in center field, where he won a minor league Gold Glove award, though he is well capable of playing both left and right.

Yount made history when he debuted at age 18 in 1974 just months after being drafted by the Brewers. Since then, only Kevin Kobel in 1974 (20 years, 185 days) and Gary Sheffield in 1989 (20 years, 136 days) appeared in an opening day game for Milwaukee under 21 years old.

Chourio will be the sixth-youngest player to play in any game for the Brewers, and youngest since Sheffield made his debut as a 19 year old in 1988.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Sources: Jackson Chourio has made Brewers opening day roster