Brewers News: Top Prospect Jackson Chourio Could Reach Big Leagues In 2023

Jackson Chourio is still just 18 years old. That didn't stop Brewers manager Craig Counsell from proclaiming that we could see the young outfielder in Milwaukee in 2023.

In an interview at MLB's annual Winter Meetings. Craig Counsell was takling about the young prospects we could see in Milwaukee. He mentioned the names that most expected; Brice Turang, Garrett Mitchell, Sal Frelick, Esteury Ruiz, and Joey Wiemer. All reached Triple-A last year while Mitchell and Ruiz reached the big leagues.

But there was another name Counsell mentioned.

Craig Counsell named Jackson Chourio as a player who could make his Milwaukee Brewers debut in 2023.

Perhaps the most exciting prospect to come through Milwaukee's farm system since Ryan Braun, Jackson Chourio has rocketed through the minor leagues and up to the top of prospect lists.

Baseball America has Chourio ranked as the #2 prospect in all of baseball. The Brewers signed him in January 2021 and spent that season in the Dominican Summer League. He began 2022 in extended spring training, but was quickly promoted to Low-A Carolina in early May. From there, he took minor league baseball by storm.

Despite being the youngest player in Low-A by several months, Chourio dominated the Carolina League, earning a promotion to High-A Wisconsin, where he continued to dominate. Chourio then earned a final promotion for the last week of the season to Double-A Biloxi at just 18 years old and the youngest player in the league every step of the way.

Reaching Double-A at 18 years old is practically unheard of nowadays. Chourio's talent is immense and his quick rise has not gone unnoticed. In fact, it's practically impossible to have not noticed his rise.

The Brewers have several good outfield prospects ahead of Chourio, most of whom will likely make their MLB debuts before Chourio does. Chourio is slated to begin the 2023 season in Double-A but could be promoted quickly if the Brewers believe he's ready.

As Counsell said, he's played so well and handled every challenge they've thrown at him, so why wouldn't it be possible he could reach the big leagues in 2023?

In terms of the reality of the situation, promoting Chourio to the big leagues in 2023 is going to depend on a few factors. First, he has to continue to perform at a high level. Any struggles along the way would obviously delay any potential promotion to the big leagues. Second, there has to be an opening at the big league level for Chourio. They won't promote him just for him to fill a bench role.

The Brewers have a lot of depth in the outfield with their current big leaguers plus the other prospects like Frelick and Wiemer ahead of Chourio. Those players will get the first crack at big league ABs before Chourio does. Unless an injury or poor performance opens a need, would the Brewers really push Chourio that fast? He is highly rated but so are the other outfield prospects Milwaukee has.

The projected timeline has Chourio reaching Milwaukee in early 2024, but the Brewers are at least open to calling him up in 2023 if the circumstances call for it.