PHOENIX — When Brewers’ young phenom Jackson Ciorio received the news that he was on the opening day roster a few days ago, and just a week before he turned 20, he and his friends were at a popular spot in North Scottsdale. , celebrated with a delicious meal at Mastro’s Ocean Grill.
But Chourio, just seven days out of his teens, celebrated with a soda pop — never mind that he has the Brewers’ name on his uniform — and is the only member of the Brewers’ roster to have a legal beer. He’s the only one who can’t enjoy it. Regardless, he’s in great shape thanks to his hyper-accelerated career path.
The promotion was another big moment for the phenom, who received a contract that was by far the richest for a player who had never played a game in the major leagues. His eight-year contract of $82 million was far less than the White Sox’s previous record of $50 million. Starring Luis Robert. The humble, often-smiling kid has played in just eight games since Double-A, but he showed enough flashes of his tremendous talent to secure this call-up.
“He’s a great athlete,” said one National League scout. “He seems to be up to the task.”
If the decision to promote was made primarily on the day he signed a contract that could take him almost into his 20s, thanks to Arizona’s sun, wind and skies, despite some outfield misfortunes , Chorio proved it with a solid spring. He can make veterans look like rookies. Chourio actually made some great plays in a game that started an hour after receiving the good news from coach Pat Murphy, but he also committed two errors in right field. His bosses aren’t worried at all. They think he’s putting a little pressure on his teammates to prove his worth.
A contract that set a new standard for minor leaguers had been months in the making for the phenom, who had risen to No. 2 in the prospect rankings. Negotiations began at $38 million, and about four months later Chourio was signed to a long-term contract with more than double that amount guaranteed.
No one here hates Benjamins. That’s because he’s not only a tremendous talent (he hit 22 home runs and stole 44 bases last year), but he’s also a pleasant young man who fits in well. Chourio was seen sharing a hug with star shortstop Willie Adams after leaving Murphy’s office, the first sign of a notable promotion, which the Brewers have yet to publicly confirm. do not have.
A record deal can either inspire or frighten a child, but in his case, it’s not a worry.
“It’s an incredible feeling. It’s definitely a blessing,” Cholio said through team interpreter Daniel de Mondesert (Small Club Sacrifice), who is also a major league coach. So all I really have to do now is perform to my ability. ”
His talent is considerable, and Murphy told the media that Cholio could be the star from the get-go, despite being projected as the youngest player in the majors. He is several months younger than the Padres’ Jackson Merrill.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he went all out,” Murphy said. “He’s going to be a good player. He definitely has a bright future.”
Until then, there will be several long days in which he will show flashes of brilliance but also reveal growing pains. On this day, he made a perfect bunt, carried it to the bat, and made a spectacular throw that kept the runner on third base. But he also made these two mistakes.
“He still has a long way to go,” Murphy said minutes before his promotion to the majors. “We signed him for the future.”
Normally a center fielder with incredible speed and skill, Chourio is expected to play all three positions, although he is still getting accustomed to the corner outfield position after his adventures in the outfield. He said he is working hard on this. He won the Rawlings Gold Glove Award the last two years in the minors, but obviously the standards are high here. When asked if any of the three outfield positions looked good to him, Murphy honestly answered, “No.”
After overrunning one ball and hitting a triple, he attributed the mistake to “getting used to playing the right way,” but said he believed it wouldn’t last long. “He knows he has the talent to play well in any position,” he said. One scout saw him as a potential Mookie Betts type, so he could fit in at second base or shortstop as well.
The Brewers clearly believed in him and agreed to a record contract despite the elbow injury. He has needed daily maintenance since he was injured pitching in a national championship game in Venezuela when he was 12 years old. The Brewers and the industry say he’s a player you can’t afford to miss. He has the right attitude and all the tools to accomplish great things, even if he has to shorten his celebration by another 51 weeks.
