Why Jackson Chourio should be the Brewers’ everyday center fielder in 2026

Though it's his bat that has ignited his already-resplendent postseason legacy — and will continue to define his Milwaukee Brewers tenure — Jackson Chourio's glove remains a confounding enigma.

For his career, the 21-year-old has been a decidedly strong defender. He's racked up a total of +9 Outs Above Average and +8 Defensive Runs Saved across nearly 2,350 innings. However, most of that work has come in the outfield corners; he's been a little less reliable in center field, earning +2 OAA and -4 DRS.

Thanks to the presence of players like Garrett Mitchell (+8 OAA, +10 DRS in center field throughout his career), Blake Perkins (+13 OAA, +11 DRS), and even Brandon Lockridge (+3 OAA, +4 DRS), it seems obvious that the Brewers should plant Chourio in left field, let Sal Frelick handle right, and rotate their stronger cast of defenders through center.

But is that really the wisest play? Chourio signed his eight-year extension as a center fielder, and the plan has always been for him to play the most important position in the outfield in the long term. Is this a case where Milwaukee needs to sacrifice a little immediate security for future benefit?

Jackson Chourio's development is more important than Brewers' ideal defensive alignment

The good news is that Chourio's bat will play anywhere. He's rocking a 115 wRC+ through the first two seasons of his career and has posted back-to-back 20/20 campaigns. As he continues to evolve in matters of maturity at the plate, he'll continue to derive most of his value from his production at the top of the lineup.

But getting his bat into center field on a daily basis would be a huge boon for the Brewers, both now and in the future. For 2026, it would mean opening up left field for someone like Jake Bauers, who wields a more thunderous bat than any of Perkins, Mitchell, or Lockridge. It also allows the Crew to field the deepest and most flexible bench of all their myriad options.

Regarding the future, Chourio's placement in center field would give the Brewers ample flexibility in their free-agent pursuits and prospect development. It's far easier to stick a bat-first player in left field than it is in center, which is partly why Chourio appeared so valuable when he inked his deal — there are vanishingly few 20/20 threats who can back it up with nightly web gems up the middle.

And, thanks to the aforementioned backup options the Brewers have on the roster, this doesn't need to be an all-or-nothing gambit. If Chourio falters in center, he can easily slide back to left field at any point to make room for Perkins or Mitchell.

Really, the only thing that should derail this experiment is if Chourio's injuries rear their ugly head once again. He was doing just fine manning center field last year until a nagging, unceasing hamstring injury grabbed hold of him and wouldn't let go throughout the second half.

Assuming that's now behind him, Brewers fans should get acquainted with seeing "Jackson Chourio: CF" on Pat Murphy's lineup cards.