PHOENIX — The Milwaukee Brewers suddenly find themselves facing an unexpected dilemma.

This issue hasn’t been discussed in staff meetings, analytics reports, or even in passing conversations among the players.

Now, at this point in the 173-day baseball season, the Brewers must confront a unique situation.

What are they going to do about rookie standout Jackson Chourio?

There’s nothing wrong with Chourio’s performance—he has an impressive .311 batting average, 18 home runs, and 61 RBIs since June 2, boasting a .929 OPS. Out of his last 19 hits, 15 have been for extra bases.

Off the field, Chourio is also thriving. He lived with his parents from the start of the season until just three weeks ago. His teammates, coaches, clubhouse attendants, and scouts all have glowing things to say about him.

“He’s an amazing person,” says Brewers manager Pat Murphy.

Brewers GM Matt Arnold adds, “You see this kid smiling all the time and interacting with his teammates. It’s just a pleasure to have him around.”

The Brewers are close to securing the National League Central title. Given the challenges they’ve faced this past year—injuries to key players, their manager leaving for the Cubs, their baseball executive moving to the Mets, and trading away a Cy Young winner—they’re ready to celebrate.

But there’s a catch.

Chourio is just 20 years old and won’t turn 21 for another six months.

This becomes especially tricky in Milwaukee, a city known for its beer culture, as they must comply with the same regulations as anywhere else in the U.S.

So how will the team handle this?

“Oh my God, I didn’t even think about that,” remarks Brewers pitcher Freddy Peralta, 28. “What are we going to do? We need to figure something out fast.”

Willy Adames, 29, has an idea: “We could get him some apple juice. When we have our champagne shower, we can give him an apple juice shower instead. We don’t want to get him in trouble.”

Catcher William Contreras, 26, suggests, “That’s a great question. He’s 20, right? So maybe just lots of water for him.”

Catcher Eric Haase, 31, believes things might be different: “I doubt anyone will enforce any rules. He’s such an important part of this team; he should be able to join in on everything.”

Chourio laughs off the quandary, thinking an ice shower would be just fine until the realization hits Peralta.

“I’ve got it!” Peralta exclaims. “We’ll just use non-alcoholic beers—like O’Doul’s—and spray him with those. That’ll work perfectly.

“He means so much to this team; we’ve got to do something.”

Chourio, who is the youngest regular player for the Brewers since Hall of Famer Robin Yount in 1975, has been a key asset this season. Living up to his reputation as one of baseball’s promising talents, he has made history by being the youngest player to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in a single season. His impressive stats stand at .276 with 21 home runs and 77 RBIs as a rookie.

The Brewers first scouted Chourio when he was only 11 in Venezuela, offering him a $1.8 million international signing bonus when he was 16, and later signing him to an eight-year, $82 million contract last December when he turned 19. This was the richest contract ever granted to a player before even playing a Major League game.

Chourio, who learned he would be part of the opening-day roster midway through spring training, admits he felt immense pressure to meet the expectations tied to his contract, having been hailed as a future star and wanting to perform accordingly right away.

This pressure took a toll on him, and after the first two months, he was hitting a low .210 with a .581 OPS, with only nine extra-base hits and 47 strikeouts in 162 at-bats.

“A rough start can be hard for anyone,” says Adames. “Especially for someone like him, who is new to the major leagues at just 20 years old. It was a tough time. He definitely faced huge expectations from everyone.”

“Initially, we wanted him to find his way independently, but after seeing his struggles, we decided to step in and reassure him that everything would be fine. We told him to stay confident, and that he would perform better in September. After that, he caught fire and hasn’t looked back since.

“Now it feels like everyone can see that this kid is the real deal. He’s showing everyone the player he truly is, especially after some may have doubted him in the beginning.”

Despite facing challenges, including spending several games on the bench, Chourio maintained a strong front. He consistently arrived early for pre-game training, believing that every day could be his breakout moment. Even after a tough game where he struck out three times without a hit, he would walk out of the clubhouse with a smile.

“We always knew he had superstar potential, but it was a hard journey for him,” Peralta recalls. “You could see his frustration because he was eager to show why he deserved the contract. Yet, he remained the same lighthearted guy in the clubhouse, still laughing and joking around.

“I remember in our first month of discussion, he actually listened to me for some reason. I told him, ‘Just remember this—by the end of the season, you’ll be hitting .270 with 15 homers.’

“Now, I tell him, ‘Look where you are now. You’re a superstar, kid.'”

Chourio has placed himself at the center of the Rookie of the Year conversation, boasting an NL-leading .311 batting average since June 2. He ranks among the top five in on-base percentage (.370), slugging percentage (.569), and OPS (.929). Across this stretch, he tallied 61 RBIs and 43 extra-base hits, dramatically improving his OPS from .542 in May to .897 in June, .878 in July, .925 in August, and an impressive 1.033 in September.

“This kid keeps getting better,” Arnold remarks. “We took a significant risk when we signed him, and he has proven to be everything we hoped for and beyond. He possesses all the qualities to reach remarkable heights. We’re witnessing him achieve things in baseball that are rare for his age.’

Maybe that rough two-month period turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Chourio.

“I didn’t expect him to come in and dominate the league right away,” Brewers All-Star outfielder Christian Yelich states. “That’s not how MLB operates. He came in with a lot of pressure and initially struggled. But the way he didn’t let that discourage him, adjusted, and now looks so composed is truly impressive.

“He now exudes confidence and is incredibly dangerous at the plate. Just imagine how much better he’ll be in two, three, or four years with more experience. He has amazing talent.”

After recently achieving the 20-20 milestone, Chourio was inundated with around 50 congratulatory calls and texts. Eager about what the future holds, he’s nonetheless enjoying every moment of the present.

“Honestly, this has been a dream season for me,” Chourio shares through assistant coach/interpreter Daniel de Mondesert. “It’s tough to anticipate a season like this, but I really aimed for it, especially in terms of home runs.

“And the fact that we’re winning makes it even more enjoyable.”

Originating from Maracaibo, Venezuela, Chourio is gradually gaining attention off the field. When he’s not playing at American Family Field, he enjoys gaming, particularly playing Call of Duty, MLB The Show, and FIFA.

“I’m having a fantastic time this year, and I’m grateful for the support from my family and teammates,” Chourio says. “People back home are thrilled too, sending me messages expressing pride in my accomplishments. Honestly, I couldn’t ask for more.’

Well, except maybe a brief exemption for that impending division-clinching celebration, especially with the Brewers’ magic number sitting at two before their game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday.

This could be an unforgettable evening for Chourio.

As he expresses, he has never been part of a team that secured a playoff spot in his life.

“This will be my first celebration,” Chourio says. “I hope it’s just the first of many. I’m not sure what the team has planned for me, but I really hope there are some non-alcoholic drinks for me.”

At least for now. After all, he will turn 21 next year.

“I can’t wait,” Chourio chuckles.

Neither can the Brewers.

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