Jackson Chourio keeps finding new ways to carve out a place in Brewers history, and Saturday added another line to the resume. The Milwaukee outfielder connected for his 20th home run of the season, and he did it right away, leaving the yard in the first inning as the Brewers jumped in front early.
That homer moved Chourio into rare territory for a player his age. According to ESPN, he became part of a very small group to reach the milestone when he did.
Even before turning 23, Chourio has already done something only a handful of players in MLB history have managed. He is the 17th player ever to post three seasons with at least 20 home runs before that age, a list that includes Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, Frank Robinson and Eddie Mathews. In Brewers history, only Ryan Braun had done it as well.
The 22-year-old’s power output has been steady from the start. He hit 21 homers in each of his first two full seasons, and he has now gotten to 20 again this year despite missing time after suffering a broken bone during the World Baseball Classic.
The production has not been limited to the long ball, either. Chourio has also brought speed to the table, stealing at least 20 bases in both of his first two seasons. With one month left, he needs six more steals to get back to the 20-steal mark again in 2026.
Milwaukee’s bigger picture looks just as strong. The Brewers sit at 85-51, eight games ahead in the NL Central, and their 85 wins are the best mark in the National League.
The Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers are four games back. Milwaukee will try to keep building on that total Sunday when it finishes its series against the Texas Rangers.
In Other News...
Brewers Quietly Added Infield Depth At The Right Time
The Brewers kept their infield options moving this week by bringing back veteran Jonathan Ornelas on a minor league deal and sending him to Triple-A Nashville. It comes soon after he was designated for assignment and then elected free agency, a familiar sort of transaction at this stage of the season for a team trying to stay flexible while keeping experienced depth within reach.
Ornelas gives Milwaukee a useful safety valve because he has big-league experience with multiple clubs and can cover several spots around the diamond, including both infield and outfield duties. For a Brewers team that values versatility as much as almost any club in the game, it is the kind of low-key move that can matter if the roster starts to thin out in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Playoff Pitching Outlook Just Got More Concerning With Kyle Harrison
Kyle Harrisons return from a month-long injury had looked encouraging at first, with the left-hander still getting results even while working his way back from forearm tightness. But the underlying signs have turned less comforting, especially for a Brewers club trying to line up every possible edge heading into October. His fastball has slipped from a career-best 95 mph to an average of 93.7, and the diminished life has started to show up in the damage hes allowed.
The latest warning came against the Cubs, who jumped on Harrison for nine earned runs in 3 innings. Chicago took advantage of both the reduced velocity and pitch tipping, a combination that has raised more questions than answers about how sharp Harrison really is after the injury. For Milwaukee, any pitchers dip matters this time of year, and this one now looks like a problem worth monitoring closely. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Could Face A William Contreras Decision Fans Wont Ignore
Austin Wells has given the Yankees a little more behind the plate, but the catching market could still be one of the more interesting parts of their offseason, and William Contreras would sit near the top of it. For Milwaukee, the question is less about whether Contreras has value and more about how much value the Brewers are willing to entertain. He remains one of the clubs most important bats, and his defense has taken a step forward, which only sharpens the stakes if front offices start calling.
Contreras is also entering the final year of his contract in 2027, a detail that naturally puts him on the radar for teams looking to upgrade at catcher. The Yankees would make sense as one of the clubs to watch, but the bigger issue for the Brewers is whether they want to keep pushing forward with an All-Star centerpiece or listen to the kind of trade offer that could force a difficult choice. For a team that tends to balance contention with payroll reality, this is the sort of decision that can linger all winter. [Read more 🡒]