Craig Counsell praises his former Brewers prospects after NLDS loss

The Brewers have continued to thrive despite Counsell’s exit and the loss of several key players over the years. Even after seeing stars like Corbin Burnes and Willy Adames move on, Milwaukee has stayed competitive, largely because of the rise of their young talent and the steady development of their top prospects.

Back in Counsell’s final year with the Brewers in 2023, Jackson Chourio and Jacob Misiorowski were still rising stars in the system. Now, both have stepped into the spotlight as major contributors at the big-league level, delivering clutch performances in October and helping power Milwaukee’s Game 2 win over the Cubs.

Craig Counsell praising Jackson Chourio and Jacob Misiorowski

After the game, the Cubs manager shared his candid reaction to watching some of the players he once coached come back to hurt him and his new team.

“They’re both really talented players. I think you expected them to be big leaguers, absolutely,” Craig Counsell spoke about his former players via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Curt Hogg.

Chourio had long been one of baseball’s most hyped prospects, signing a deal worth up to $142.5 million over 10 years before even reaching the majors. The Brewers’ confidence in him paid off right away.

Meanwhile, Misiorowski has been electric since reaching the majors, and at just 23 years old, it seems only a matter of time before he grows into a reliable mid or even top-of-the-rotation starter for the Brewers.

The Cubs opened Game 2 of the NLDS in perfect fashion, as Seiya Suzuki launched a three-run homer to give them an early lead. However, their offense stalled for the next eight innings, while the Brewers stormed back behind a towering home run from Chourio and a strong relief outing from Misiorowski.

The Cubs will need an extraordinary effort to keep the Brewers from advancing.