World Series: Chourio Leads Brewers to 3-0 Advantage
Milwaukee's 22-year-old outfielder recorded four hits in Monday's 10-1 victory over Tampa Bay, setting a record for players his age.
By Meera Fletcher ·
The Milwaukee Brewers hold a 3-0 lead in the World Series following their 10-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night in St. Petersburg, Florida. The win puts the franchise one win away from its first championship in 57 years. Jackson Chourio, the team's 22-year-old outfielder, recorded four hits in the game, accounting for a quarter of the Brewers' 16 total hits.
Chourio became the first player aged 22 to collect four hits in a World Series game in 80 years. He has now recorded eight hits in the first three games of this series. The Brewers' offense dominated the Rays throughout the contest. In the fifth inning of the final game, the team strung together eight two-out runs to secure the decisive lead.
Hitting coach Daniel Vogelbach described Chourio as a kid who could be playing college baseball. Chourio, who is in his third year of professional play, has appeared in 23 career postseason games. He attributed his performance to maintaining a calm mindset and focusing on positive results. He noted that he expects a lot from himself while accepting that others have high expectations.
Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold stated that Chourio is turning into a superstar. Arnold signed Chourio out of Venezuela as a 16-year-old in 2021 while serving as general manager. Teammates have observed the young player's composure under pressure. Captain Christian Yelich said Chourio has a slow heartbeat and enjoys the moment.
Field coordinator Néstor Corredor, who coached Chourio in the Venezuelan winter league and the World Baseball Classic, noted a shift in the player's approach this postseason. Corredor observed that Chourio initially became too anxious, particularly against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The player subsequently worked on shortening his swing and managing pitches more effectively. Corredor said Chourio now understands the team supports him and does not need to act as a solo hero.
Statistical trends in Major League Baseball show a league-wide OPS that is 39 points higher in the regular season than in the postseason. Chourio presents the opposite profile. His regular-season OPS from 2024 to 2026 stands at .799. In the playoffs, his OPS is .882. He became the first player to record three consecutive seasons with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases before the age of 23.
Backup catcher Gary Sánchez said in Spanish that Chourio seems to prefer high-pressure moments over regular-season play. Chourio's name reflects his family's connection to the Los Angeles Lakers. His middle name, Bryan, honors Kobe Bryant, and his younger brother Jaison has the middle name Oneel after Shaquille O'Neal. Chourio said he read Bryant's autobiography and attempted to adopt aspects of that mentality. He said he knows how hard he worked for this position and finds it gratifying that the results are aligning with his efforts.
Source: ESPN
