Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio hit his 20th home run of the season Saturday night during a 5-3 victory over the Texas Rangers, marking his third consecutive season with at least 20 homers.
Chourio, 22, joins an exclusive group of 17 players who have accomplished this feat before reaching their 23rd birthday. The list includes Hall of Famers Ted Williams, Eddie Mathews, Mickey Mantle, Frank Robinson and Orlando Cepeda.
He is only the second player in Brewers franchise history to achieve three 20-homer seasons before turning 23. Ryan Braun previously accomplished this between 2007 and 2009.
"I feel very prideful and very happy to be a part of that group and be mentioned with those same names," Chourio said through an interpreter.
Chourio noted he did not watch much baseball as a child in Venezuela, making it difficult for him to name a specific player he looked up to while growing up.
The Brewers signed Chourio to an eight-year, $82 million contract in 2023 when he was 19 and had not yet reached the major leagues. In his first two seasons, he exceeded 20 homers and 20 stolen bases each year.
He reached the 20-homer mark this season despite a fractured bone in his left hand sustained while playing for Venezuela in an exhibition game before the World Baseball Classic. Chourio continued to play in the WBC, helping Venezuela win the title, then started the season on the injured list for the Brewers, making his first appearance May 4.
The injury may prevent him from achieving a third straight 20-20 season. He currently holds a.281 batting average, a.342 on-base percentage and a.478 slugging percentage, with 14 stolen bases.
Over his last 11 games, Chourio posted a.362 batting average with three homers and seven RBIs. Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Chourio is "special" and highlighted his quick hands.
Milwaukee won its fourth consecutive game Saturday, maintaining the best record in Major League Baseball. Chourio has performed in high-pressure situations, posting a.341 batting average with four homers and 11 RBIs across 12 career postseason games.
