Milwaukee Brewers’ top prospects 2024: Jackson Chourio is ready for his chance to become an MLB star
Major League Baseball’s offseason is underway, and that means everyone is thinking about the future. In most cities, that means next season; However, in some it means the bigger picture, the next three to five years. There is an old saying that you are either selling victory or selling hope. At CBS Sports, we want to provide as much hope as possible this winter by evaluating each team’s form system.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that every team has an equally good farm system – as you’ll find out during the process, some lack that respect. Still, this does mean that CBS Sports will be examining the top three prospects in each organization over the next few months. We define “prospects” as maintaining their rookie eligibility for the 2024 season, so if a young player is missing that’s likely the reason.
These lists and evaluations are created after conversations with scouts, analysts and player development types. This also includes direct evaluation and bias. Keep in mind that player evaluation is a difficult task, and it’s OK if you disagree with the rankings. These are opinions and have no real impact on the future. You can check out our winter top 25 list by clicking here,
With that in mind, let’s get to it by analyzing the Milwaukee Brewers.
1. Jackson Chourio, CF (20 years old)
- Top-25 Ranking: number 7
- short version: Legitimate center fielder with the ability to steal big-time homers.
- mlb eta: summer 2024
Chourio, the breakout star of the 2022 minor-league season, is a dynamic talent. He is the rare player who can launch opposite field home runs with regularity, as well as put infielders in the blender on routine grounders. (There was a game against the Angels’ Double-A affiliate in late April where he recorded infield singles to the shortstop and third baseman in consecutive frames.) Some evaluators have expressed hit-tool concerns stemming from his aggressive approach. It’s a good idea, but Chourio– Who signed a deal worth $82 million in December – Has earned the benefit of the doubt by making a mark in the upper minors at such a young age. If all goes well, that will give the Brewers their fifth 30/30 season. And their sixth, their seventh, their eighth, and so on.
2. Jefferson Cuervo, C (21 years old)
- short version: Quality two-way backstop close to debut.
- mlb eta: spring 2025
Cuervo, most importantly, is a good defensive backstop with general infield qualities and a big arm that should come in this new era where base stealing is again encouraged. He also plans to become an average or better hitter, which he has very much held onto himself during his professional journeys. This includes last season, when at age 20, he played 7% better than average in Double-A. The Brewers have no reason to move Cuervo to the majors, not with William Contreras, which suggests he may have to wait another year to debut.
- short version: Huge potential with exceptional fastball and slider, but command may send him to the bullpen.
- mlb eta: summer 2024
Misiorowski became the highest-drafted player from Crowder College (Missouri) in decades when the Brewers took him 63rd overall in the 2022 draft. He validated the selection last season, his first full-length effort as a professional, by striking out more than a third of the batsmen he faced. Over 71 innings and three levels. Misiorowski has a great one-two punch with a hot, rising fastball and a low-90s slider that serves as his main secondary pitch. His biggest obstacle to becoming at least a mid-rotation starter will be his command, as he walked over 13% of the batters he faced. Misiorowski’s arm action and release point may remind you of Red Sox right-hander Tanner Houck. The Brewers can only hope that he can also duplicate Hawk’s walk rate – 3.3 per nine innings – over the course of his big-league career. If so, Misiorowski could become the next great Brewers right-handed starter.