BALTIMORE – Jackson Chourio ran his way into the record books.
When Chourio walked and stole second base in the sixth inning of Sunday’s 3-0 Brewers win over the Orioles – the Brewers had to challenge the initial call for Chourio to be ruled safe – it gave him 20 stolen bases this season to go with 24 home runs, and made him the first player in Major League history to achieve three 20-20 seasons before turning 23 years old.
Only two other players have started their careers with at least three consecutive 20-homer, 20-stolen base seasons: The Mariners’ Julio Rodríguez and the Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. Rodríguez has already secured a fifth straight 20-20 season, and Witt is two home runs shy of a fourth in a row.
Now they’ve been joined by Chourio, who stole two bases on Sunday night in the latest example of why he belongs among the sport’s emerging stars.
“That’s just Chourio,” said Jacob Misiorowski, a Minor League teammate at multiple levels before they both ascended to the Brewers. “It’s just cool to see a guy like that perform at the highest level. There’s a lot to be said about Chourio. He’s an animal out there and he’s also crazy in here. He’s a fun teammate."
“He’s just an absolute talent. Quickest hands I’ve ever seen,” said Brewers teammate Sal Frelick. “It’s just a pleasure to watch, especially when he catches fire like this. It shouldn't be slept on that a guy like that has been doing that. He’s had some injuries and maybe some slow starts. He hasn’t been an All-Star yet. But I think he’s one of the best players in the league, and he doesn't get the recognition he deserves.”
Unfortunately, his run into the record books was followed by running into an unfortunate out. When William Contreras followed Chourio’s sixth-inning steal with a bouncer to third base, Chourio got too close to Orioles infielder Coby Mayo and was tagged out for the front end of an inning-ending double play.
Chalk it up as a learning lesson for a player who is the same age as many college seniors.
“He’s just scratching the surface of how good this kid can be,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said.
Chourio already this season became the 17th player in MLB history with at least three seasons of 20 or more home runs by his age-22 season -- and it’s quite a list. Of the previous 16, eight are in the Hall of Fame: Mel Ott, Ted Williams, Eddie Mathews, Mickey Mantle, Al Kaline, Frank Robinson, Orlando Cepeda and Ken Griffey Jr. Beyond that, there’s Tony Conigliaro, Bob Horner, Alex Rodriguez, Giancarlo Stanton, Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Carlos Correa and Juan Soto, some of whom may be on their way to Cooperstown.
“That’s what we work for. That’s what I work for,” Chourio said. “I’m happy I was able to accomplish [20-20].”