Only Jackson Chourio and his optician know for sure, but it appears MLB Pipeline's No. 2 overall prospect has perfect 20/20 vision.
Although it will take a flourish to eclipse last year's record 27 20-homer, 20-stolen base campaigns, Chourio is certainly doing his part. The top-ranked Brewers prospect joined the power-speed fraternity for the first time, connecting on his career-high-tying 20th long ball in Double-A Biloxi's 3-2 win over Tennessee at Smokies Stadium on Thursday night.
Chourio is the first player with a 20-20 campaign, while being a teenager at Double-A or higher, since Delmon Young with Montgomery in 2005.
"It’s pretty impressive, I tell you that," said Biloxi hitting coach Chuckie Caufield. "I played and coached with some good players, but I can’t recall seeing anyone do what he's done at his age at this level."
The 19-year-old officially joined the 20-20 club in the top of third inning, slugging a game-tying two-run jack to right field that proved instrumental in the Shuckers' win. Chourio had long-since reached the 20-stolen base mark, swiping his 20th on June 23. He entered the contest with 35 swipes, fifth-best in the Southern League.
The multihit performance continued a strong finish in August for the Venezuela-born outfielder, who is slashing .306/.370/.531 during a season-high 11-game hitting streak, his third of 10 or more games in 2023. It's also the second milestone Chourio has achieved in a week, after he set a new single-season club record with 76 RBIs, eclipsing Corey Ray's 74 RBIs in 2018.
Chourio also became the fifth player in Shuckers history to hit 20 homers in a season.
Caufield marvels at a player that, according to him, "checks all those boxes."
"He's got God-given ability," Caufield said. "You look him up and down and to have all that ability and then also be able to use it ... it's all on him. That's what makes him so special. Having those tools and being able to actually use them to the level he does on a nightly basis is something we all wish we could do."
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Chourio's success is the age and level at which he's accomplishing it. Chourio reached Double-A last season when he was only 18, and despite competing in a league where he is nearly five years younger than the average age of his peers, he's put together a second consecutive All-Star-worthy campaign.
"I always go back to how young he is," Caufield said. "The Southern League is one of the toughest leagues to hit in and then to do what he's doing as a teenager? It says to me, 'This guy has something unique.'"
Chourio will bring a .281/.335/.469 slash line, 43 extra-base hits and a career-high 83 RBIs into the season's final month, almost a carbon copy of his 2022 campaign when he hit .288 with an .880 OPS in 99 games across three Minor League levels.
While Chourio’s ability to put the bat on the ball provides him leeway to mask an otherwise aggressive approach, he's already walked more times this season (35) than ever before. Although he doesn't profile as someone who will produce high walk rates, his power and hitting prowess, coupled with 70-grade speed and Gold Glove-caliber fielding adds plenty of shine to an already bright star.
"He just needs to keep polishing his overall game," Caufield explained. "Any good hitter stays in the strike zone. The better he can get at that, the more success he'll have ... especially with those tools. I have no doubt he'll continue to make the adjustments he needs to make.
"Man, he's special."