The Milwaukee Brewers placed outfielder Jackson Chourio on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left hand hours before their season opener on Thursday. The 22-year-old is expected to miss at least the first two to four weeks of the regular season. Switch-hitter Blake Perkins was recalled from Triple-A to fill Chourio's spot on the roster.
MILWAUKEE -- Jackson Chourio suffered the injury when hit by a pitch on March 4 during an exhibition game for Venezuela in West Palm Beach, Florida, ahead of the World Baseball Classic. Initial X-rays were negative, and he missed the tournament's first two games before returning to play, including in the Brewers' exhibition games against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday and Tuesday this week. A check swing during one of those games prompted renewed discomfort, leading to an MRI that revealed a small hairline fracture at the base of his middle finger on the left hand, according to Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold and manager Pat Murphy. The move to the injured list is retroactive to Wednesday, making Chourio eligible to return no earlier than April 4 in Kansas City. The Brewers hope to have him back before the end of April. “It’s rough, for sure. You want to be out there with them,” Chourio said through translator Daniel de Mondesert. “But equally, I’ll be in here, supporting them as I always am. It’s a long season.” Arnold described the fracture as slight but emphasized caution given Chourio's importance to the team. “Obviously, [it's] a tough blow for us, a tough blow for the kid because he’s such a good person and means a lot to our clubhouse,” Arnold said. Murphy noted the injury has begun to heal but playing now risks further damage. The Brewers' medical staff coordinated closely with Venezuela's team, following all protocols. To cover Chourio's absence, Perkins -- a former National League Gold Glove finalist -- was recalled after a quick flight from Nashville. Jake Bauers will start in left field, with Christian Yelich expected to see more outfield time. Chourio, who signed an eight-year, $82 million contract in December 2023 before his major-league debut, became the youngest player with multiple 20-20 seasons in 2024 and 2025.
