Jackson Chourio's ascent to superstardom continues with Gold Glove finalist designation

Since Ryan Braun switched to left field during his sophomore season in 2008, the Milwaukee Brewers have consistently had a star player among their outfield group. Braun's legendary tenure fed directly into Christian Yelich's emergence as the Brewers' star outfielder, and now the baton is being passed to 22-year-old Jackson Chourio, whose first three seasons in MLB have been among the best ever by a player of his age.

Chourio, who signed a record-breaking contract extension before making his debut for the Brewers on Opening Day of 2024, was one of the top prospects in all of baseball as he rose through Milwaukee's farm system. Prospect evaluators deemed him a future star due to his five-tool skillset, and through his first three seasons in the big leagues, Chourio has lived up to that billing.

The young outfielder has crushed more than 20 homers and stolen more than 20 bases in each of his first three campaigns showcasing his impressive combination of power and speed. Chourio is the only player to accomplish three 20-20 seasons before turning 23. He's also maintained a batting average of .270 or better in each of his first three seasons, demonstrating an excellent hit tool that is aided by Chourio's lightning-quick hands.

If there was one area of Chourio's game that was still a question mark through his first two seasons in the majors, it was his defense. Chourio posted 12 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and 6 Outs Above Average (OAA) in his rookie season in 2024, but followed that up with -4 DRS and 3 OAA in 2025. That inconsistency had analysts questioning Chourio's defensive abilities. However, Chourio, who was always a strong defender during his time in the minor leagues, put those questions to bed during the 2026 season.

With 13 DRS and 7 OAA, Chourio was among the best defensive left fielders in the sport this year. Just moments ago, that performance was validated by Chourio being named a finalist for a Gold Glove Award for the first time in his young career.

Jackson Chourio solidifies five-tool status after being named a Gold Glove finalist

The term "five-tool player" is used to describe a baseball player who excels at 1) hitting for average, 2) hitting for power, 3) baserunning/speed, 4) fielding, and 5) throwing. It's certainly a rare combination, as even most star players will only have three or four elite "tools" in their repertoire. However, with a Gold Glove nomination now on his resume, Chourio has solidified himself as a true five-tool player.

As previously mentioned, his power, hit tool, and speed were already obvious during his first two seasons in MLB, but the Gold Glove nomination highlights the defensive value that Chourio displayed throughout the season. Pair that with arm strength that ranks in the upper quartile of major league outfielders, and it's impossible to deny Chourio's all-around excellence.

To make matters even more impressive, not only is Chourio a finalist for a Gold Glove this year, but the Brewers' budding superstar should win the award. Chourio outpaced both Ian Happ, who has four Gold Gloves to his name, and Daylen Lile in both DRS and OAA this year. It would therefore be difficult for Rawlings to justify not giving the NL left field Gold Glove to Chourio.

It's been an incredible season for Chourio between his continued regular season consistency and his standout performance in the NLDS. Add the first Gold Glove Award of Chourio's career to the picture, and it's clear the Brewers' young left fielder is on the cusp of stardom. With seven years remaining on Chourio's contract, the Brewers clearly made the right decision to lock up the budding superstar with a long-term deal before he started racking up the awards.

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