Brewers Prospects: Why Hasn't Top Prospect Jackson Chourio Been Promoted Yet?

For Jackson Chourio, 2022 couldn't have gone much better. After storming on to the scene at just 18 years old in his first season of affiliated ball, the top Milwaukee Brewers prospect went from Low-A to Double-A in just a matter of months.

By the end of the year, he had hit .288 with a .880 OPS, 30 doubles, 20 homers, and 75 RBI. The only blip on the radar came in his final stop at Double-A Biloxi where he only played in six games but had just two hits in 23 at bats. It was understandable that he perhaps ran out of gas in such a whirlwind of a season.

Thus, all eyes were on Chourio to start 2023 and see if he could stand up to the challenge of Double-A competition as the youngest player at that level. Based on his 2022 season, Brewers fans were already imaging the possiblities if he passed that test early and continued his torrid path through the system, questioning if he could even find himself in a Brewers uniform this season.

As it turned out, things started off a little slow for Chourio in 2023. Through the end of June, he found himself slashing just .253/.311/.410 (.721 OPS) with 13 doubles, 10 homers, and 47 RBI - not horrible numbers but also not up to the standards of the previous season.

But then July came around and Chourio went on a tear. Now, the team's prized prospect has his numbers looking amazing once again at a time where the MLB trade deadline has passed and the Brewers often start promoting certain prospects.

And yet, Jackson Chourio remains at Double-A Biloxi.

So why hasn't top Brewers prospect Jackson Chourio been promoted to Triple-A yet?

First, let's take a look at Chourio's numbers from July, which look like they came straight out of a video game. In 19 games, he slashed an insane .388/.447/.718 with six doubles, two triples, six homers, and 20 RBI while also scoring 24 runs and swiping nine bags. He also only struck out 10 times.

That, plus an August that hasn't been too shabby either, now has his season slash line up to .285/.342/.473 with 19 doubles, 17 homers, 71 RBI, and 32 stolen bases. His season strikeout rate (19.4%) is also down quite a bit from his 2022 rate (26.9%) across three different levels of the minors.

Last season, the Brewers promoted a trio of impressive prospects (Garrett Mitchell, Sal Frelick, and Joey Wiemer) from Double-A to Triple-A right after the trade deadline. This season, it felt like history might repeat itself as Chourio and fellow prospects Tyler Black and Jeferson Quero were ready to make their own leaps as August started drawing near.

Unfortunately Quero hit the IL right before the trade deadline, taking him out of the running for a promotion. But while Black did, in fact, get moved to Triple-A shortly after the deadline, Chourio didn't end up joining him despite an outfield spot opening up for him when Tyler Naquin was traded away post-trade deadline.

So to answer the question as to why Chourio hasn't been promoted yet, the answer is that your question is as good as ours. He looks ready for the next challenge and the timing seems to be right. Maybe Brewers fans get to see him in a Nashville uniform soon, but for now, they will just have to wait.