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MLB teams have plenty of money to throw at players, but massive contracts are typically reserved for guys who’ve proven themselves at the game’s highest level. However, the Brewers are apparently going to make an exception for highly-touted prospect Jackson Chourio.
Jackson Chourio isn’t exactly a household name among baseball fans, but it certainly seems like the Milwaukee Brewers are confident that’s going to end up being the case at some point in the future based on the contract extension they’re reportedly preparing to give him.
Chourio is a 19-year-old native of Venezuela who received a $1.9 million signing bonus after linking up with the franchise as an international free agent in 2021, and as things currently stand, he sits only behind Orioles prospect Jackson Holliday on the list of the most talented up-and-coming players in the minor leagues.
The outfielder spent the majority of the 2023 season with the Class-AA Biloxi Shuckers and batted .280 while posting 22 home runs, 89 RBI, and 41 stolen bases. He ended up getting promoted to AAA toward the end of the campaign, and while he only played six games, he had a .333 batting average during that span.
It’s safe to assume it’s only a matter of time until he gets called up to the MLB when you consider Jon Heyman reports the Brewers are currently gearing up to give him an eight-year contract extension worth a cool $80 million.
Breaking: Top CF prospect Jackson Chourio, 19, and the Brewers are expected to complete today the richest contract ever for a player who has yet to reach the big leagues. The deal is expected to be for 8 guaranteed years snd close to $80M and include two team options.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 30, 2023
According to MLB.com, there have only been five players who’ve received an eight-figure extension before appearing in a single game for the big league franchise that signed them; Luis Robert Jr. got a six-year deal worth $50 million in 2020, so Chourio will set a new mark to beat if the rumored contract is finalized.
There’s no telling when he’ll make his debut with the Brewers, but he’ll certainly be worth keeping an eye on based on the promise they obviously believe he shows.