Jackson Chourio made news this offseason after the Milwaukee Brewers signed their No. 1 prospect to an eight-year, $82 million deal that includes a pair of club options and incentives.
Chourio got this deal without having played a Major League game. It was the largest contract given to a player that had never played an MLB game.
So, MLB Pipeline recently asked, “Who is next season’s Jackson Chourio?” In other words, who could play themselves into that kind of opportunity?
Well, one expert, Jim Callis, projected it would be a Top 10 New York Yankees prospect — shortstop Roderick Arias. Callis believes the youngster is poised to take a big jump:
He’s got a chance to hit for power, hit for average, solid-to-plus runner, cannon arm, can stay at shortstop. He was very good in the Florida Complex League. He hit [.267], six homers in 27 games before he had an injury that won’t affect him long-term. I think he’s going to be really, really good. He had a broken thumb last year. … He won’t turn 20 until, pretty much, the season is done."
The Yankees had high expectations for him when they signed him as part of their international class in 2022, so high that the Yankees gave Arias a $4 million signing bonus.
The Dominican Republic native has only played in 58 games so far, but as noted his improvement was clear in the Florida Complex League last season.
He slashed .267/.423/.505/.928 with six home runs and 26 RBI. He also had two doubles, two triples and 17 stolen bases.
In two seasons in the Yankees’ system, he’s slashed .230/.400/.435/.835 with eight doubles, four triples, nine home runs and 37 RBI. He has stolen 27 bases, drawn 55 walks and struck out 75 strikeouts.
More must-reads: