Outfielder Jackson Chourio agreed to the largest contract for a player with no major league experience, an $82 million, eight-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers announced Monday. The 19-year-old has played only six games above the Double-A level. His deal includes team options for 2032 and 2033.
Quick Read
- Record-Breaking Contract: Jackson Chourio has signed an $82 million, eight-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, the largest contract ever for a player with no major league experience.
- Career Progression: At 19 years old, Chourio has played only six games above the Double-A level. The contract includes team options for 2032 and 2033.
- Previous High: Chourio’s deal surpasses the previous record held by Luis Robert, who signed a $50 million, six-year deal with the Chicago White Sox in 2020 before making his MLB debut.
- Potential Major League Start: Chourio could potentially start the 2024 season in the major leagues. The contract covers his period of arbitration eligibility and potentially his first two free agency seasons.
- New Manager for Milwaukee: The Brewers are starting the season under new manager Pat Murphy, following Craig Counsell’s move to manage the Chicago Cubs.
- Brewers’ Recent Performance: Milwaukee won the NL Central title last year, with significant contributions from rookies.
- Chourio’s Prospect Status: Recognized as one of baseball’s top prospects, Chourio has rapidly advanced in the Brewers’ farm system, playing six games for Triple-A Nashville in the past season.
- Historic Recognition: Chourio is the first player in Brewers history to be named the organization’s minor league player of the year twice.
- Signing and Performance: He received a $1.8 million signing bonus when he joined the Brewers from Venezuela in 2021. In 2023, he batted .283 with 22 homers and 91 RBIs across Double-A Biloxi and Triple-A Nashville.
The Associated Press has the story:
Chourio gets $82M, 8-year deal with Brewers, largest before a player’s big league debut
Newslooks- NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)
Outfielder Jackson Chourio agreed to the largest contract for a player with no major league experience, an $82 million, eight-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers announced Monday.
The 19-year-old has played only six games above the Double-A level. His deal includes team options for 2032 and 2033.
He broke the previous high for a player yet to make his debut, a $50 million, six-year deal outfielder Luis Robert signed with the Chicago White Sox in 2020. Robert’s agreement was announced on Jan. 2, 2020, and he hade his MLB debut on July 24 of that year. Chicago also gave a $43 million, six-year contract to designated hitter/outfielder Eloy Jiménez in March 2019 ahead of his debut.
Chourio could start the 2024 season in the major leagues. The deal covers his entire period of arbitration eligibility and what potentially would have been his first two seasons after free agency.
Milwaukee is starting its first season under manager Pat Murphy following the departure of Craig Counsell, who left to manage the Chicago Cubs.
The Brewers won an NL Central title last year while getting contributions from plenty of rookies, with Brice Turang starting at second base and Sal Frelick and Joey Wiemer playing the outfield. Garrett Mitchell also was the Brewers’ starting center fielder at the beginning of the season before a shoulder injury knocked him out for much of the year.
Chourio is regarded as one of baseball’s top prospects in all of baseball. Although he doesn’t turn 20 until March 11, Chourio has advanced rapidly enough in the Brewers’ farm system that he played six games for Triple-A Nashville late this past season.
He’s the first player in Brewers franchise history to be selected the organization’s minor league player of the year twice. Chourio received a $1.8 million signing bonus when he joined the Brewers organization out of Venezuela in 2021.
Chourio batted .283 with a .338 on-base percentage, 22 homers, 91 RBIs and 44 steals in 128 combined games with Double-A Biloxi and Triple-A Nashville in 2023. He hit .288 with a .342 on-base percentage 20 homers, 75 RBIs and 16 steals in 99 combined games with Class A Carolina and Wisconsin, and Biloxi in 2022.
