PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Here’s a question for Jackson Chourio as the budding Brewers star began a recent workday: On a scale of 1-10, how would he rate his confidence heading into his sophomore season in the big leagues?
Chourio didn’t hesitate before answering in English.
“Twenty,” Chourio said.
If that wasn’t clear enough, he added, “A lot.”
And how would he have answered on that same 1-10 scale at this same time last year?
“Four,” he said.
There are multiple reasons for Chourio’s psychological bump, starting with the fact he’s proven to himself and the rest of baseball that those Minor League numbers that earned Chourio an eight-year, $82 million commitment from the Brewers before he’d spent a day in the Major Leagues was no fluke. Playing the entire 2024 season as a 20-year-old, Chourio surged from June onward to secure the youngest 20-20 season in Major League history and finished third in NL Rookie of the Year Award balloting.
Now you can add to the fact that he's hitting .468 (22-for-47) in the Cactus League, an eye-opening figure that temporarily ticked up to .489 on Sunday when Chourio popped his first Spring Training home run in the Brewers' home spring finale against the Rockies, and reached as high as .500 in the middle of last week.
Which begs a different question: What does that mean, hitting .500 in Spring Training games?
“I don’t think it means anything other than the fact he’s seeing the ball really good,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “Spring Training numbers are so skewed because everything’s different. The pitching you’re facing isn’t working off a scouting report. Nothing about the game is the same, which gives a lot of us some trepidation, you know? We have to somehow practice these moments.”
Same question for Christian Yelich:
What should we make of a good batting average in Spring Training?
“As a player, Spring Training is more about does your body feel good? Did you get in shape to play?” Yelich said. “Obviously, you want the results. It just feels better confidence-wise. You feel like you’re in a good place to succeed during the season.
“But it’s just so different in spring. The way the games play out, the way you’re pitched, the friendly offensive environments. It’s different than the season. I’ve had both Spring Trainings. I’ve been on fire, and other springs where you suck. You’ll always take the one where you’re feeling great because you’re going into the season on a high note. He’s had a great Spring Training and it should be a really good year for him.”
“But,” Murphy added, “he’s young, and he’s human like everyone else. I want to warn people that there will be a 1-for-30. There’s going to be one. But he’s doing good things.”
For his part, Chourio insisted he wasn’t even aware that his Cactus League batting average had been hovering around .500.
“I didn’t know,” Chourio said, “so it doesn’t really matter. You’re just focusing on trying to have good at-bats.”
Would it have mattered last year at this time, when he was on the eve of his first Major League season?
“I haven't really thought about it like that,” Chourio said. “I’m always trying to just focus and give my best version of myself going into any season. Right now, I’m trying to go up there and feel like I’m in a good position, feel confident, have good at-bats. We’re working on everything.”
His aim this season?
“Just hit it hard,” he said.
Murphy expects Chourio to be among a host of developing Brewers hitters who will be approached differently, and carefully, by opposing pitchers. With Willy Adames and his team-leading 32 home runs gone to San Francisco, and Christian Yelich coming off back surgery, the Brewers hope to get power production from their developing players like Chourio, Garrett Mitchell, Joey Ortiz and maybe even Brice Turang and Sal Frelick.
“That’s a great challenge for them to step up,” Murphy said. “The other guy has still got to make pitches, so just because they’re throwing you strike-to-ball sliders doesn’t change anything. You learn to take it. You learn to understand that if you continue to do what you do well, consistently, then you don’t have to be great. If you’re just good at it, then good things will happen.”
Chourio, who turned 21 on March 11, sees good things happening. He’s mature enough, however, to know that nothing in baseball is guaranteed.
“We just have to see,” Chourio said, “but I feel ready for the season. I feel a lot more relaxed, a lot more calm, knowing I’m coming in here [with a job].”