Jackson

Chourio

This is going to be the closest race of any as there are compelling cases to be made for Chourio, Skenes and Merrill here. Chourio caught fire over the final few months of the year, finishing an extraordinary 21-homer, 22-steal rookie campaign by helping propel Milwaukee back to the playoffs. Skenes wrapped up a historic rookie campaign in which he also started the Midsummer Classic for the senior circuit with a sublime 1.96 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 170/32 K/BB ratio across 133 innings (23 starts). Merrill made San Diego’s season-opening roster out of spring training as their starting centerfielder and never looked back, delivering a series of clutch hits over the course of the year, finishing with a robust .826 OPS to go along with 24 homers and 16 steals over 593 plate appearances.

Chourio homered off Sean Manaea to lead off the bottom of the first and later tied the game against Phil Maton in the eighth. Both were opposite field shots, with the first traveling 376 feet and the second going 398 feet. At 20, Chourio became the second youngest player ever with two homers in a postseason game. Andruw Jones had two in Game 1 of the 1996 World Series while still 19 years old.

Chourio scored when Rhys Hoskins was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the first inning. In the fourth inning, he tied the game with an RBI single. Chourio also made an impressive catch in left field. Not a bad playoff debut for the 20-year-old rookie.

With the Brewers already locked into a playoff spot and all but assured to be the third-seed, it wouldn’t be a surprise for them to give their starters some days off over the final days of the season. Garrett Mitchell will move to right field on Thursday with Blake Perkins entering the starting lineup in center field and batting sixth.

Chourio did roll his ankle during Friday’s game against Arizona, but Brewers manager Pat Murphy told reporters that the outfielder is just getting a day off. Murphy then said Chourio is likely to get Sunday off to get a three-day break, so, it’s a little hard to believe this isn’t a little injury related. Still, Chourio should be fine for the next week as the Brewers look to receive a bye from the first-round of the postseason.

The homer was his 21st, placing him 21st all-time on the list for players 20 or younger. 25 would put him in the top 10, in a tie with Hall of Famers Eddie Mathews and Orlando Cepeda. He’s also now 14th on the RBI list for 20-year-olds; his 82 ties him with Johnny Bench, Phil Cavarretta and Tony Conigliaro. One more will make him a match for Frank Robinson and Mike Trout, which is pretty good territory.

20 homers and 20 steals at age 20. He’s the youngest player to pull off that particular feat; Mike Trout and Vada Pinson also did so in their age-20 seasons, but they were both months older than Chourio. Really, though, the steals are incidental. Chourio is the 21st player to hit 20 homers at age 20 or younger. The other active players to do it are Trout, Giancarlo Stanton, Juan Soto, Ronald Acuña Jr., Bryce Harper, Carlos Correa and Fernando Tatis Jr.

Jackson Chourio is 20. He has 19 homers now, with a solo shot off Steven Matz. The wunderkind also doubled in a run in the fifth. Jackson Chourio is 20. He’s hitting .281/.330/.470 with 69 RBI and has been one of the best hitters in the league over the last few months. Jackson Chourio is 20.

Chourio’s home run was his 18th of the year. He hit a grand slam off Riley O’Brien in the sixth inning. Chourio continues to stay hot in the second half. He has 20 stolen bases to go along with the 18 home runs. The combination of power and speed from the 20-year-old figures to have him soaring up 2025 draft boards. Chourio is hitting .278 with a .789 OPS and 67 RBI on the year.

What injury? Chourio certainly didn’t look hobbled whatsoever by the ankle injury that saw him leave Friday’s game. The steal was the 20th of the season for the 20-year-old, and his go-ahead homer gives him 17 on the season. Chourio isn’t likely to win Rookie of the Year in 2024, but that’s all compliment to Jackson Merrill and Paul Skenes and zero insult to Chourio. What a sensational rookie class, and Chourio has the most upside — at least in terms of fantasy — of any of the three.