Is It Time To Option Jackson Chourio To Nashville?

[Harold Hutchison]

Jackson Chourio is the future of the Milwaukee Brewers. Nobody seriously questions that. However, there is time to ask what some might call an unaskable question: Should Chourio be optioned to Nashville?

Image courtesy of © Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

It’s not like such a move would alter the service time dynamics--not with that massive extension Jackson Chourio signed over the winter. But in the series against St. Louis, he did not start any of the first three games, and in the last game of the series, he went 0-for-2 and drew a walk.

There is a reason for the recent lack of playing time, of course. Look at the numbers to date. A .214/.262/.333 line after the game on May 12 isn’t exactly world-beating. He’s a little better than the 2023 version of Brice Turang at the plate, but that is a very low bar, and this is a team that is currently leading the NL Central. Winning playoff series requires setting and clearing a higher bar.

The team needs to get better production – and as of now, Sal Frelick, Blake Perkins and Jake Bauers are putting up better numbers alongside Christian Yelich than Chourio is. Chourio’s weaknesses at the plate are being attacked, as noted earlier on this site. They will continue to be attacked until he figures out how to make pitchers pay, either by laying off the low outside pitches, or by starting to make solid contact on them.

The only way for Chourio to be less vulnerable (and thus, to get better at the plate) is to get plenty of at-bats. That means he needs to play regularly. But can the Brewers afford to accept a .595 OPS in a corner-outfield spot over the long term? For a contending team, that's a rhetorical question.

So, does Chourio need to make his way to Music City for a bit to get regular plate appearances, and work on handling those outside pitches? It would be a bit embarrassing (for both the player and the organization) to take a concrete step backward at this stage, but let’s also keep in mind that for all intents and purposes, Chourio has been asked to make the jump from Double-A Biloxi to the majors at an exceptionally young age.

Both player and organization could have a lot to gain by having Chourio sojourn in Nashville for a month or so. Recall that Brice Turang’s turnaround really came after his 2023 reset, and the move to take an offensive approach more in line with his skill set. The Brewers had a similar plan for Joey Wiemer to fix his swing, before Yelich’s injury brought Wiemer to Milwaukee earlier than the Brewers planned.

For the short term, sending Chourio to Nashville would be painful. But Chourio is expected to be a long-term fixture for the Brewers, and he has the type of contract one gives to a long-term fixture. The Brewers may need to embrace the short-term pain and give Chourio a couple of weeks in Nashville to refine his skill set. It may be the best move they could make for 2024 and beyond.

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[sveumrules]

7 minutes ago, clancyphile said:

The team needs to get better production – and as of now, Sal Frelick, Blake Perkins and Jake Bauers are putting up better numbers alongside Christian Yelich than Chourio is.

Frelick (79 wRC+ | -0.3 WAR | .267 xwOBA) is not putting up better numbers than Jackson (64 wRC+ | 0.1 WAR | .265 xwOBA).

Considering Frelick is four years older and already got a couple hundred MLB PAs last year, his lack of production is more concerning to me in the immediate term.

Either way, no one is going anywhere until Mitchell is ready so until then just ride it out and see where everybody’s at once it’s time to make that call.

[Trax]

I thought to start the year Jackson should have been at Triple A.  A lot of pressure on him.

I said last night watching the game with my wife Sal has really hit a sophomore slump and if it continues he could be sent down once we get healthier.   

Stay tuned.

[JohnBriggs12]

44 minutes ago, Trax said:

I thought to start the year Jackson should have been at Triple A.  A lot of pressure on him.

I said last night watching the game with my wife Sal has really hit a sophomore slump and if it continues he could be sent down once we get healthier.   

Stay tuned.

Frelick's numbers last year were nothing to write home about.  There was no bigger myth about this Brewer team than it's supposed outfield depth.  Depth, really?  They hoped Chourio was ready.  So they traded away one veteran (Taylor), and didn't bring in one veteran OF to compete for a job.  Frelick has 6 extra base hits in over 150 PA.  That's basically the guy he was after a fast start last year.

Sure they could send Chourio down, but who's their alterative?  The best hitting outfielder not named Yelich is Bauers, and against RH pitching he should be in the lineup but it's looking right now like he's more needed at 1B.  Wiemer doesn't seem like he's an improvement over his 23 form, and besides he's hurt.  Perkins started off on fire, but he's hitting .125 in May with an OPS under .500.  That leaves career minor leaguer Brewer Hicklen who struck out over 200 times in AAA in 2022 or Owen Miller who's outfield experience is limited, but at least he has stretches of being a decent major league bat.  He also could fill in at 1B and that would allow Bauers to play a corner outfield spot.

Mitchell has a tremendous opportunity once he returns.

[Trax]

"Mitchell has a tremendous opportunity once he returns."

 

That's the guy.  I think unless he continues easing downward Perkins has earned a spot.  Yeli is there.  Sal or Wiemer need to get hot, and I'd bet on Sal before Wiemer.  They both may have to do it at Triple A at some point.  Hicklen has been super hot of recent but seriously doubt he's any more ready than JC, Sal, or Wiemer. 

[Samurai Bucky]

Quote

It would be a bit embarrassing (for both the player and the organization) to take a concrete step backward at this stage, but let’s also keep in mind that for all intents and purposes, Chourio has been asked to make the jump from Double-A Biloxi to the majors at an exceptionally young age.

It is only embarrassing if the expectations were unrealistic to begin with.   There were many who thought he would be able to step in and be a solid contributor day in and day out.  He is 20 years old... just like Jackson Holliday.

Like @Trax, I felt Chourio should have started at AAA.  Although the time in the big leagues did allow him (and the organization) to learn how other teams are going to attack him.

He definitely needs to get some at bats.  He needs to learn to spray the ball better, how to have different approaches at different counts, and not try to hit every ball 120MPH.

This takes me back to Yelich's interview in spring training:

Letting him work may look differently for different people.  I think he learned that there is still a lot of work to do.  I'm confident that if (and when) they send him back down, he will be better when he returns.

[tmwiese55]

Yup the whole logjam discussion was overblown.  But I don't think they can really do it now with the other injuries and Frelick being just as bad, but it should be on the radar for both of them down the line if things don't improve.    Really probably should have held onto Taylor for another year, especially being a RH with Yeli, Frelick, Mitchell all being lefty. Stable competent bat, good at D and still cheap.  

No harm in digging around now for a one year fill in trade to finish the year either, whoever that might be.  Oddly a Taylor type guy should be someone the target, no need to spend real capital on getting a higher level person than that with the holes in this team and the gap between them and ATL, LAD, PHI.

[Jim French Stepstool]

2 hours ago, sveumrules said:

 

Either way, no one is going anywhere until Mitchell is ready so until then just ride it out and see where everybody’s at once it’s time to make that call.

Bingo.

The recent inactive spell was pretty obviously a case of the organization believing that side work w/Timmons, Dawson & whatever vets were working with him, was going to be more productive than him spending a month or two hitting against AAAA pitchers & the occasional not-yet-ready prospect. I think his ABs the last few days haven't been overly impressive, but better. I'm good with giving him the 2-3 week window before Mitchell returns, provided that in the meantime we keep Mitchell away from batting cages, bases, anything sharp or protruding, anything not encased in bubble wrap..........

[Brian]

I have been saying send him down for a while because he could end up having zero confidence in himself if we waited to long.  He really had only about good 2 or 3 weeks up here. 

[Samurai Bucky]

1 hour ago, tmwiese55 said:

...and Frelick being just as bad, but it should be on the radar for both of them down the line if things don't improve.   

I'm thinking Frelick needs to take the same approach as Turang at the plate.  Keep it compact and stop swinging off of your back foot.  That is a biproduct of somebody saying, "you need a better launch angle."  Making contact and squaring up the ball is more important than launch angle.  By having your hands take a longer path to the ball and leaning back (effectively changing your bat path), you are reducing the percentage of success.

I really enjoy Frelick and would like to see him succeed in Milwaukee.  If for nothing else -- he knew what a Bubbler is... 😉

[Jim French Stepstool]

23 minutes ago, Samurai Bucky said:

  That is a biproduct of somebody saying, "you need a better launch angle."  Making contact and squaring up the ball is more important than launch angle. 

Amen to that. So many hitters followed the launch angle craze that shouldn't have. Makes me ill.

[tmwiese55]

3 minutes ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

Amen to that. So many hitters followed the launch angle craze that shouldn't have. Makes me ill.

And for him it seemed he was the opposite of that coming up and the flashes last year. Basically that he was gonna try to be an old school spray the ball type of guy but not hit tons of HRs.  Just hit solid line drives everywhere, use your speed.  Maybe down the line if you fill out and get comfortable more power would come.  I'm not expert enough to see if anything drastic has changed on his swing to chase launch angle (unlike how it was obvious with Keston) but if they have they need to just get back to basics that got him to MLB.  

[Brian]

4 hours ago, Trax said:

I thought to start the year Jackson should have been at Triple A.  A lot of pressure on him.

I said last night watching the game with my wife Sal has really hit a sophomore slump and if it continues he could be sent down once we get healthier.   

Stay tuned.

This is exactly how I feel. Sal in a sophomore slump but still hitting 30 points better than Chourio.

I know I am older than most you guys but when I played college ball they stressed line drives, more like a Luis Arraez type hitter.  Chourio is not a long ball hitter so his HR launch angle is meaningless for him. 

[Jim French Stepstool]

50 minutes ago, tmwiese55 said:

And for him it seemed he was the opposite of that coming up and the flashes last year. Basically that he was gonna try to be an old school spray the ball type of guy but not hit tons of HRs.  Just hit solid line drives everywhere, use your speed.  Maybe down the line if you fill out and get comfortable more power would come.  I'm not expert enough to see if anything drastic has changed on his swing to chase launch angle (unlike how it was obvious with Keston) but if they have they need to just get back to basics that got him to MLB.  

Not necessarily launch-angle related, but I feel he's attacking pitches at the top of the zone (or above) that he should be leaving alone. Way more swing-and-miss than what his skillset should allow for, and way more than what he displayed in the minors. And I think approach has more to do with that than the upgrade in pitching at this level. Hopefully as he matures that'll change.

[Harold Hutchison]

2 hours ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

Amen to that. So many hitters followed the launch angle craze that shouldn't have. Makes me ill.

I always suspected it was partly to blame for wrecking Keston Hiura in 2020/2021.

[Joseph Zarr]

Well given the recent article Brewer Fanatic published calling for an end to the Jake Bauers era...and, in true fashion, Bauers has since been torrid including last night's grand salami...I'm going to guesstimate another early-season over-reaction will lead to a Chourio tear. Maybe he goes the rest of the season without a single swing-and-miss! A couple well-respected posters on this very website were also extremely bearish on Turang (you know who you are, you fiends!) before the MLB season even began. Even though, my fine feathered posters, Turang has demonstrated at every level an initial struggle followed by improved and more polished offensive approaches. 

I digress. Should they send him down? It certainly wouldn't make sense at this juncture given the overall state of the outfield and roster at large. AND, like Turang, Chourio has demonstrated an uncanny ability to adjust at every level - this type of slump isn't rare but the lack of bounceback performances and output are. BUT, his weaknesses are his weaknesses - nothing changed from the past year plus we've watched him. He's now simply playing the hardest level of baseball and his weaknesses will be exposed by much better and much older pitchers. 

Practice patience, young Grasshoppers.

[jay87shot]

I am fine with them keeping him up. They probably just need to sit him against the better righties a bit more. His swings have looked fine but he does seem to be swinging to hard. He just needs to think up the middle and try and send outside pitches to right. 

We could easily send him to AAA for Roller or Hicklen. I don't think the confidence issue is sending him down, I think it would be sending him down and the struggles continue. 

Perkins has been pretty bad the past couple weeks ba down to .218, he is looking more like a 4th OF. I still believe in Sal (tonight makes that easy) but a guy like him really needs to be way more consistent. 

[WAN2]

Fact is, "phenoms" don't always grow up to be phenomenal.   But it IS the stuff dreams are made of.  

[BrewerFan]

15 hours ago, Brian said:

This is exactly how I feel. Sal in a sophomore slump but still hitting 30 points better than Chourio.

I know I am older than most you guys but when I played college ball they stressed line drives, more like a Luis Arraez type hitter.  Chourio is not a long ball hitter so his HR launch angle is meaningless for him. 

Do you mean Frelick here? Chourio is absolutely a "long ball hitter." That's the calling card. His power(and speed, but mostly his power).

Launch angle is definitely not meaningless for him. 

[Brian]

17 minutes ago, BrewerFan said:

Do you mean Frelick here? Chourio is absolutely a "long ball hitter." That's the calling card. His power(and speed, but mostly his power).

Launch angle is definitely not meaningless for him. 

I meant Chourio, a home run every 24 at bats his whole minor league career which is respectable ok.

4 homeruns in MLB would put him 150th in the MLB,  Not a long ball hitter in my book.

[BrewerFan]

12 minutes ago, Brian said:

I meant Chourio, a home run every 24 at bats his whole minor league career which is respectable ok.

4 homeruns in MLB would put him 150th in the MLB,  Not a long ball hitter in my book.

He's 20. I'm struggling to see if this post is serious or not, but....in pretty much every book, he was the a top 2 prospect because of his power. His 60-70 grade power.

Now his HR per AB during incredibly aggressive MiLB promotions. 

[Brian]

2 hours ago, BrewerFan said:

He's 20. I'm struggling to see if this post is serious or not, but....in pretty much every book, he was the a top 2 prospect because of his power. His 60-70 grade power.

Now his HR per AB during incredibly aggressive MiLB promotions. 

OK if it makes you happy I will say Chourio is a power hitter.  Geez!

[tmwiese55]

16 minutes ago, Brian said:

OK if it makes you happy I will say Chourio is a power hitter.  Geez!

Well I think the idea is that he's projected to be as he ages and fills out, not necessarily that he has been in his age 18/19 minor league seasons when he's like 4 years younger than everyone else..  Size, build, swing, bat speed etc he's supposed to hit HRs dwon the line if his superstar projection is true

[Brian]

I'm just so sick of all this launch angle crap. Either you hit'em or you don't. Pretty simple. 

[keephopealive]

He had a great day today.  Keep posting articles questioning him, if it inspires him to hit HRs and have multi-hit games... 

In seriousness, I think you have to let the kid play through the ups and downs and adjust.  He struggled at Biloxi up through June before figuring it out.  His OPS was 100 points higher then (about .715 rather than .615) but it was AA, and this is the majors.