Chourio, Contreras and Zerpa bring their pride back from the Classic

PHOENIX – There is a specific kind of magic that happens when a clubhouse stops being a workplace and starts feeling like a neighborhood. For Jackson Chourio, William Contreras and Angel Zerpa, that magic followed them from the roar of the World Baseball Classic at LoanDepot Park in Miami to the quiet final days of Spring Training at American Family Fields of Phoenix.

When the clubhouse doors opened, Chourio and Contreras were easy to spot – wearing their full Venezuelan threads with gold medals hanging over their jerseys. Along with Major League field coordinator Néstor Corredor, who served as a BP pitcher for the team, they stood as a reminder of a run that changed the history of Venezuelan baseball.

The medals were eventually tucked away, but the jerseys stayed on as Chourio and Contreras took to the main field to get a few hacks in before the day began.

"I might even sleep in it," Chourio said with a wide grin, glancing at the jersey that, just days before, was the symbol of a national movement.

Venezuela’s 3-2 victory over Team USA on Tuesday represented more than just a box score. For this trio of Brewers, the hardware is secondary to the "vibe." In a tournament defined by high-stakes pressure, the Venezuelans found their edge in joy.

"What makes Venezuelans unique is that we never get bored," said Zerpa, who spends his offseasons in the town of Anaco. "We’re always telling jokes ... always messing with each other. If someone’s feeling down, we do whatever it takes to lift their spirits."

Corredor, who has mentored the club's Latin American contingent for years, admitted the emotional weight of the run caught even him off guard.

"I was not even close," Corredor said of his expectations. "It was very emotional, very intense. Mentally and physically, you're tired, but it was good. At the end, we got the gold medal, and it was good for us and for the country."

The brotherhood the group describes represents a functional boost for Milwaukee as the roster begins to crystallize in this final week of spring. Thursday afternoon, the Brewers optioned outfielders Blake Perkins and Tyler Black to Triple-A Nashville, narrowing the field for the Opening Day squad. With these moves, the roster now centers on the returning group. Milwaukee isn't just welcoming back three champions; it is reintegrating the players who represent its ceiling for the year.

Contreras, the reigning Silver Slugger from Puerto Cabello, has evolved into the NL’s premier backstop. His ability to handle a pitching staff under an international microscope is a green flag for a Brewers rotation that relied on him for a 3.47 catcher ERA in 2025. At just 22 years old, Maracaibo native Chourio is seeking to build on a historic start to his career, after becoming the youngest player in MLB history to post multiple 20-home run and 20-stolen base seasons.

Then there is Zerpa. The left-hander is perhaps the spring's biggest riser after his performance in Miami. A December acquisition from Kansas City, Zerpa’s 63.7% ground-ball rate – which was the league’s fifth-best mark last year – and a nearly 97 mph sinker that puts him over three mph above the average for left-handers made him a nightmare for hitters in the tournament. He is currently in a competition for a high-leverage lefty role in a bullpen looking to bridge the gap to Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill.

For Zerpa, the most emotional moment didn't come from a strikeout, but from the national anthem.

"It reminded us of singing it back in school," Zerpa said. "Even though we didn’t know it perfectly, thank God it turned out to be something really beautiful. Seeing how the country is right now, celebrating and excited ... it was something really great for us to see our country really happy."

While the "business" of the NL Central has resumed, the emotional high of Miami remains. As the trio eventually packs away the Venezuelan jerseys, they carry a new perspective on what it means to win for a country that needed a reason to smile.

"Honestly, that’s something we carry with us," Chourio said. "The fans are super important for us. My family was there, just like William's, and I know that memory will stay with us for our whole lives."

"We know it’s not easy to have opportunities here, but we come from nothing in Venezuela," Contreras added. "We play from when we’re little. It’s something we have in our blood. Hearing Venezuela’s anthem in Miami – it’s something really beautiful; you feel something you can’t even explain. What we gave to the people of Venezuela and what we accomplished wasn’t easy. But we already did it. We’re champions. I want everyone in Venezuela to know we went out there and gave our best for them.”