The Brewers’ Jackson Chourio finished his breakthrough 2022 season at Double-A as an 18-year-old. No hitter that young had reached that high since Fernando Tatis Jr. in 2017 or Bryce Harper in 2011.
Chourio returned to Biloxi on Opening Day this year as the only 19-year-old at Double-A. The center fielder did not light the world on fire in the first half, hitting .249/.304/.410 with 11 home runs and a 21% strikeout rate in 71 games.
But not everything is as it seems.
The Southern League experimented with a pre-tacked baseball in the first half that gave pitchers a consistent grip on the ball. It had the effect of improving spin rate and command of breaking pitches and fastballs, especially riding four-seamers up in the zone.
