Jackson Chourio responded to 5 strikeout game and has been raking ever since

Two weeks ago, Milwaukee Brewers centerfielder Jackson Chourio was the talk of town. But on this rare occasion, the buzz wasn’t at all positive.

After earning the Opening Day leadoff spot for the second straight year, the 21-year-old star made history by becoming just the second player in the modern era (since 1901) to bat leadoff on multiple Opening Days before turning 22. Unfortunately, that record was quickly overshadowed by a more dubious one: Chourio became the first player in Brewers history to strike out five times on Opening Day.

The performance raised early concerns of a dreaded sophomore slump. Some even wondered aloud whether Milwaukee was rushing the young outfielder into his role as the team’s heartbeat. But those worries didn’t last long.

Brewers ace Freddy Peralta pulled Chourio aside after the game and offered words that would prove prophetic. As reported by MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy, Peralta told him: “As soon as I saw him walking in, I told him, ‘Remember, this is the first game. Maybe Saturday or Sunday, you’re going to get three or four hits. It doesn’t matter, just turn the page. We have two more games left here in New York, and that’s it.’”

Chourio's bounce-back is helping fuel the Brewers' hot streak

Chourio listened. And then he responded. Since that rough debut, the Brewers' star center fielder hasn’t gone hitless in a single game. As of April 11, Chourio is riding a career-best 13-game hitting streak, looking every bit like the player Milwaukee continues to believe in.

Over that stretch, Chourio has not only collected hits — he’s changed games and the overall tone for the Brew Crew. He’s slugged four home runs, driven in 14 RBIs, and completely flipped the narrative surrounding the Brewers’ offense. His current slash line: .302/.297/.619, with an eye-popping 153 OPS+.

Just as notable as Chourio’s individual turnaround has been the effect it’s had on the team. After beginning the year 0–4, the Brewers have surged to an 8–6 record and now sit atop the NL Central. It’s a remarkable turnaround for a team whose pitching depth was decimated by injury before the season even began.

While it’s still early, Chourio’s resilience has become symbolic of this Brewers squad — young, unproven in places, but unwavering when faced with adversity. For all the questions about whether Milwaukee could keep pace in the division, their star center fielder is making sure they don’t just stay in the conversation — he’s helping them lead it.

If this is what bouncing back looks like, Chourio’s future — and Milwaukee’s for that matter — is in very good hands.