the prospect Venezuelan Jackson Chourio He signed a record contract extension with the Milwaukee Brewers for 8 years and $80 million, despite not having yet made his Major League debut.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the deal includes two team options and will set the all-time record for the richest contract given to a minor league player.
The previous record belonged to Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert, who signed a six-year, $50 million contract in 2020 and became an All-Star, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner.
Chourio, 19, has yet to play in a major league game and has only six games of experience above the Double-A level.
Chourio, originally from Venezuela, signed with the Brewers as an international free agent in 2021.
Since then, he has quickly worked his way through the organization and is ranked by MLB.com as the No. 2 prospect in all of baseball.
According to MLB.com journalist Adam McCalvy, Chourio’s contract would be for 8 years and $82 million, and although it is not yet known exactly about the Brewers’ options, the agreement could go up to $140 million and 10 seasons.
Players receive immense financial security from the start, but also risk sacrificing potential future earnings if they reach their potential. Teams also take risks by offering guaranteed future money and often look to “buy out” a player’s first two free agent seasons without having to pay what could be an exorbitant market rate down the road.
Jackson Chourio has the potential and the projection to imitate the journey currently being made by his compatriot, the MVP of the National League, Ronald Acuña Jr.
