Jackson Chourio (20), the highly anticipated rookie from Milwaukee, has not lived up to expectations this season.
Having debuted in Major League Baseball this year, Chourio has played in 71 games as of the 28th (Korean time), recording a batting average of .236, with 8 home runs, 29 RBIs, and 8 stolen bases. His OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) stands at just .654. While not terrible for a big-league rookie, these numbers are disappointing considering his value.
Chourio, a Venezuelan native, signed with Milwaukee in 2021 with a contract worth $1.9 million (about 2.5 billion won). Moreover, before his MLB debut, he signed a massive 8-year, $82 million (about 113.3 billion won) long-term contract with Milwaukee last winter.
In 2022, Chourio played in Single-A and Double-A in the minor leagues, posting a batting average of .288 with 20 home runs, 75 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases. Last year, he played in Double-A and Triple-A, achieving a batting average of .282, with 22 home runs, 91 RBIs, and 44 stolen bases. His OPS was an impressive .805, justifying Milwaukee’s decision to offer him an 8-year long-term contract.
While it’s important to keep an eye on him in his first MLB year, his current performance is below the high expectations set by his contract value. This is especially apparent when compared to San Diego outfielder Jackson Merrill (20), who shares the same name and age as Chourio.
Skipping Triple-A, Merrill joined San Diego’s 26-man roster for the opening game of the season. As of the 28th, he has played in 81 games, recording a batting average of .284 with 10 home runs, 37 RBIs, and 9 stolen bases, with an OPS of .753. He is even considered a candidate for the National League Rookie of the Year.
However, Chourio excels in one aspect of the league: his speed. 먹튀검증
According to a recent press release from the Milwaukee team, Chourio can run from home plate around 1st, 2nd, and 3rd base, and back to home plate in just 14.7 seconds, the fastest record among MLB players. The distance from home to home is 90 feet (about 27.43 meters).
It seems Milwaukee, frustrated by the lack of standout performances from their $113.3 million rookie, is highlighting his speed to find something to boast about.
On the other hand, Merrill, who earns the league minimum salary of $750,000 (about 1.03 billion won) this season, has exceeded expectations, delighting the San Diego management.