Friday, February 21

PHOENIX -- Jackson Chourio has some specific statistical goals in mind for 2025 after becoming the first player in Major League history to secure a 20-20 season as a 20-year-old. 

But, Chourio doesn’t intend to share which numbers he has in sight. 

“I have some goals,” he said. “I’m not going to say. It’s too early right now. But I have some [goals] I’m working hard to get to. I have some stats that I want to chase, but it’s too early to say.”

Does that mean he will identify them eventually?

“I’m going to be quiet for the entire season,” he said. 

As he answered, Chourio cracked a smile. When a reporter mentioned 30-30, that smile grew.

But don’t be mistaken; Chourio is chasing more than statistics. While discussing the proudest moment of his rookie season, Chourio didn’t mention becoming the youngest player since 1937 to bat leadoff in his Major League debut on Opening Day. He didn’t mention becoming Milwaukee’s youngest Major Leaguer since the Braves’ Hank Aaron to deliver a multi-homer game or becoming the fifth-youngest player to finish in the top three of Rookie of the Year Award balloting. 

Instead, he talked about how he finished the year with an .888 OPS, 16 home runs and 63 RBIs in his final 97 regular season games, followed by a productive National League Wild Card Series against the Mets in which he went 5-for-11. Chourio hit a pair of tying home runs in Game 2 of that series -- only Babe Ruth had done that in a postseason game before, according to Elias -- to become the second-youngest player in history with a multi-homer postseason game. (Andruw Jones did it at age 19 for the Braves in Game 1 of the 1998 World Series.)

“That was a big moment for me,” Chourio said. 

And that series came with a big lesson. When a Major League season ends, it often ends abruptly and painfully. The Brewers were two outs away from moving on to the NL Division Series when the Mets flipped the score and ended Milwaukee’s season.

“It was a hard day,” Chourio said. “We had the game in our hands, and [having it] taken away in the last inning was really painful. But I’m happy with the way the team played and the effort we put into the field. We’re just trying to do it one more time this year.”

For Chourio, the next challenge is proving he can produce when the rest of the league has a book on him. Last year, he was mostly unknown despite signing an eight-year, $82 million contract at the 2023 Winter Meetings, a record for a player with no Major League experience.

“It’s an adjustment league, right,” said Brewers veteran first baseman Rhys Hoskins. “I think what was cool to see last year was him getting better as he went. As the league made adjustments, it seemed as if he was able to make those adjustments on the fly. As long as he stays healthy and continues to work the way he did throughout the end of last year, you’re going to see the talent come through. 

“He’ll struggle just because that’s how this league is. It’s the hardest league in the world. But if he keeps his head down, he’ll find his way out of that."

In year two of Major League camp, Chourio described his confidence as “really high.” He was asked whether part of his success last season was proving he belonged in the big leagues. 

“I never tried to prove anything to anybody,” Chourio said. “I just tried to enjoy the day. I have the confidence that I know what I can do. … I’m proud of the adjustments I made after a rough first couple of months. The second half was great. I feel really proud of the adjustments I made.”

Bob Uecker passed away last month after a battle with small-cell lung cancer, but his presence is still felt as camp opened at American Family Fields of Phoenix. Fans left cans of Miller Lite and other mementos on the “Ueck” sign outside the stadium gate, and players are already wearing the Uecker patch on the sleeves of their uniforms.  

On Friday, the grounds crew unveiled another tribute by painting Uecker’s autograph in the grass behind home plate. The Brewers open the Cactus League slate at home against the Reds on Feb. 21.

Here’s a taste of manager Pat Murphy’s opening message to the Brewers in Friday’s morning meeting. It says something about how he sees his ballclub. 

“We’re always going to be the organization that has to give new guys opportunities,” Murphy said he told the group. “Those guys are going to pitch in the big leagues before, guys who have never done it before [or] guys like [Bryan] Hudson or [Jared] Koenig, [Abner] Uribe. The front office does a great job of providing us with enough depth of guys who have that potential, that are on that cusp. We’re going to wait for a couple, like Koenig or Hudson, that can emerge and be successful in the big leagues. 

“It’s kind of fun to be around. That’s authentically who we are. We are the smallest market in baseball. We are always going to fight this battle. … We had 17 different guys start last year, so look to the left and to the right; you guys are pitching in the big leagues. 

“I told one guy, ‘Have you ever pitched in the big leagues?’ He said no. I said, ‘You are this year. So plan your debut, son, because you’re going to be pitching for us. Call your mom and dad and tell them, hey, I’m going to pitch in the big leagues.’” 

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