Brewers sign top prospect Jackson Chourio to landmark 8-year, $82 million contract

Milwaukee Brewers prospect Jackson Chourio is only 19, hasn’t yet played a game in the majors and just signed a contract with a guarantee that shatters the previous record for a player with zero service time.

The outfielder inked an eight-year, $82 million contract with club options for 2032 and 2033, the team announced Monday. Escalators based on MVP votes will push the potential value to around $142 million. It’s quite a step above the six-year, $50 million contract the Chicago White Sox awarded outfielder Luis Robert Jr. in January 2020, which was previously the largest awarded to a player who hadn’t yet made his MLB debut.

COMMITTED TO THE CREW ✍️

We have signed Jackson Chourio, baseball’s No. 2 prospect, to an eight-year contract through 2031 with club options for 2032 and 2033 pic.twitter.com/TC1N9ZdCFd

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) December 4, 2023

What does this mean for Chourio’s future?

By agreeing to the contract, Chourio likely ensured he will make the Brewers’ Opening Day roster. Otherwise, the team probably would have kept him in the minors long enough to gain an extra year of club control, making him a free agent entering his age-27 season instead of his age-26. Beyond that, his risk in waiting was small. The chances of him getting non-tendered during his arbitration years was minimal. — Ken Rosenthal, senior baseball writer

Backstory

Chourio, a native of Maracaibo, Venezuela, does not turn 20 until March 11. He was the youngest player to appear at Double A in 2023 and spent most of last season at that level, batting .280 with 22 homers and an .803 OPS. He finished the year with Triple-A Nashville, batting .333 with an .851 OPS in 24 plate appearances.

Five players have signed long-term before their major-league debuts: Robert, Atlanta Braves first baseman Evan White, White Sox outfielder Eloy Jiménez, Philadelphia Phillies infielder Scott Kingery and Houston Astros first baseman Jon Singleton. — Rosenthal

Required reading

(Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty)