Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio batted left-handed for the first time in the major leagues during the second game of a doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday.
The right-handed hitter took the unusual stance on a dare in the ninth inning of a 10-2 win at Busch Stadium. He faced an Eephus pitch from utility player Bryan Torres that traveled 34.9 mph and drove it a projected 360 feet, only to be caught by center fielder Nathan Church.
Chourio said the at-bat came after teammates asked if he wanted to try hitting from the left side. “They asked me before if I wanted to try hitting left-handed, and I told them, ‘yeah,’” he said through translator Daniel de Monsesert. “I had fun doing it.”
Manager Pat Murphy noted it was the first time Chourio had swung left-handed in years yet still looked comfortable at the plate. The Brewers completed their first doubleheader sweep of the Cardinals by also winning the opener 4-3.