Chourio launches first big fly of the winter
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The Minor League regular season may be over, but the top prospect performances are still in full swing courtesy of Jackson Chourio.
The No. 2 overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline swatted his first big fly of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League season on Saturday, supplying the lone run in Águilas del Zulia's 6-1 loss to Tiburones de La Guaira.
Rocking braids -- a new hairdo to go along with a new orange jersey -- Chourio did what he has all year, launching an off-speed pitch from left-hander Gunnar Kines deep into the left-center field bleachers. The wallop was the top Brewers prospect's first of the Winter, already matching his output from each of the past two LVBP seasons.
Chourio's other standout game so far came on Oct. 27, his first game of the season. The Venezuela native posted a 3-for-4 night with a walk and two runs scored. Chourio has slashed .238/.304/.381 through six contests.
While he has yet to record a steal in the young LVBP season, Chourio's speed is one of the main tools in his belt. In the Minor League season, the 19-year-old outfielder became the first teenager since Delmon Young in 2005 to post a 20-20 season in Double-A or above, stealing 44 bags to go along with 22 jacks. Chourio achieved career marks across the board in 2023, tallying 150 hits -- the most in the Southern League -- 88 runs and 91 RBIs, each ranking within the top five of the circuit's leaderboards.
Additionally, fellow prospect Símon Muzziotti (PHI No. 8) went 2-for-4 in the game on Saturday and has collected a knock in seven of 10 games with Águilas del Zulia.
This season marks Chourio's third in LVBP, and he will once again get the opportunity to face a mix of MLB veterans and other prospects over the winter as he showcases his enticing abilities.