Jackson Chourio has been front and center on the diamond as one of baseball’s top prospects for the last year, and now he will assume that position on the screen.
Chourio will be the focus of the fourth episode of “The Freshmen,” the Milwaukee Brewers’ online docuseries that follows the team’s top prospects. The episode is set to launch May 30.
A camera crew from the Brewers followed Chourio around the complex for the Biloxi Shuckers, where Chourio currently plays and is the youngest player in Double-A at 19 years old.
Chourio, through 37 games, is batting .251 with a .692 OPS, five homers, 23 RBI and 10 stolen bases.
“Overall I’m feeling really good,” Chourio said. “I’m happy about how I’m playing so far. I’m enjoying the time with my teammates and it feels good to be sharing the season so far with them.”
There’s no question that the Brewers pushed Chourio aggressively by placing him at Double-A to begin the year after only having played 37 games above Low-A ball in his career. There have been some ups and downs for Chourio, which is to be expected for someone of that age facing that level of pitching, but it’s been evident that he’s started to acclimate himself to the level of competition.
Over his last nine games, Chourio has a .811 OPS with two homers – he also had a six-game stretch with a 1.065 OPS – and is regularly stinging the ball with exit velocities over 100 mph.
“It’s definitely a challenge. It’s definitely a lot harder than what it was last year,” Chourio said. “These are pitchers who are a lot better. They know how to work better, too. It’s a better talent level. I’m working hard on my own stuff and working to get better every day.”
The biggest adjustment Chourio has had to make is adapting to a heavy diet of breaking balls low and away. He has had no problem feasting on velocity thanks in large part to his violent bat speed, but after early success against heaters, more and more pitchers began attacking him steadily low and away with off-speed.
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Chourio has cut his strikeout rate to 21.3% over his last 21 games, which is right around where it was with High-A Wisconsin last year, and 24.1% for the season.
And, now, fans will get an up-close look at Chourio next week.
“I’m excited about it,” Chourio said. “I never thought I’d have the opportunity to do something like this but I’m excited to have the opportunity to do it. And hopefully we have some fun here.”
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers top prospect Jackson Chourio adjusting well to Double-A