20/20 Season For This MLB 20-Year-Old
On Sept. 12, the Milwaukee Brewers’ Jackson Chourio became the youngest player to record a 20/20 season in Major League Baseball history.
Chourio reached 20 steals on Aug. 31 against the Cincinnati Reds. However, he had been waiting since Sept. 3 to get his twentieth homer.
The crazy part? Chourio called it.
In a tweet from Brewers reporter Sophia Minneart, she mentioned how Chourio called his homer to her before the game even started. After his hit—which came in the top of the eighth inning—he ran into the dugout and said, “Te lo dije,” or Spanish for, “I told you so!”
Let it be known that his twentieth home run wasn’t the first one he had called before his at-bat. On Sept. 2 game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Chourio told some of his teammates, “I’m going to get an at-bat with the bases loaded, and I’m going to hit a grand slam.” Then he went on to do exactly that, according to Frankie Montas and some other Brewers players.
Before Chourio had even stepped foot in the Big Leagues, he was signed to an 8-year, $82,000,000 contract in 2024, including a $2,000,000 singing bonus. His big contract equaled some big expectations for the rookie, and, at first, he didn't quite live up to them.
In April, Chourio hit .176 and had an on-base percentage of .228. In May, he only faired slightly better, hitting .215 with a .250 OBP. Chourio was getting ready to get sent down to the Nashville Sounds when teammate and Brewers' pitcher Freddy Peralta talked with Chourio.
The talk came after Chourio let a ball fall in front of him during a Chicago Cubs game. Peralta said he reminded Chourio that he got paid before taking one at bat. “It means that you are a very good player,” Peralta said in a post-game interview on May 28.
Since then, Chourio has been a very good player, indeed.
In June, Chourio’s batting average jumped to .315 with a .363 OBP. He had 16 RBIs, four homers, and 23 hits. In July, he hit .317, and in August he hit .372. Currently, his September average is .333 with 17 games left.
In his career, Jackson has 71 runs, 126 hits, 26 doubles, 2 triples, 7 RBIs, a career .272 batting average with a .325 OBP—and, of course 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases.
The only other two players to get close were Vada Pinson (1959) and Mike Trout (2012). Unfortunately, both Pinson and Trout turned 21 before they could have a 20/20 season. Trout actually got his twentieth hit on his 21st birthday.
The Brewers have a star in Chourio, and his future looks brighter than ever.
MORE FROM STADIUM RANT:
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to our newsletter here. Check out Stadium Rant Original shows on our Youtube channel and subscribe! Give our socials Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok a follow for more great content!