Jackson Chourio leads Brewers past Rays to clinch Game 3

The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 10-1 in Game 3 of the World Series on Monday night in St. Petersburg, Florida. The victory gives Milwaukee a three-game lead in the best-of-seven series and brings the franchise within one win of its first championship in 57 years.

Jackson Chourio, who turned 22 earlier this year, drove the offensive surge with four hits in the contest. He recorded four of the 16 hits collected by the Brewers, including a base hit up the middle and a double into the right-center-field gap during the fifth inning rally. His performance made him the first 22-year-old player in 80 years to collect four hits in a World Series game.

Chourio has accumulated eight hits in the first three games of this postseason. His current postseason OPS stands at .882, which is 83 points higher than his .799 regular-season mark over the last three years. During that span, he became the first player to record three consecutive seasons with at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases before age 23.

Brewers hitting coach Daniel Vogelbach described Chourio as a "kid" who could still be playing college baseball. Vogelbach noted the player's ability to maintain composure in high-pressure environments. Chourio, who does not speak fluent English, said in Spanish that he expects a lot from himself and focuses on maintaining a calm mindset to achieve a positive result.

Néstor Corredor, the Brewers field coordinator, observed that Chourio initially showed anxiety during a rematch against the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier in the year. Corredor said the outfielder has since shortened his swing and learned to rely more on the rest of the lineup. Corredor noted that Chourio now understands he is part of a complete team and does not need to be the sole hero.

Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold, who signed Chourio out of Venezuela in 2021 when he was 16, said the player is becoming a superstar. Right fielder Sal Frelick added that such performances are now expected of Chourio. The team's success has helped alleviate pressure, with captain Christian Yelich stating that Chourio has a "slow heartbeat" and enjoys the moment.

Chourio's name pays homage to basketball legend Kobe Bryant, whose autobiography "The Mamba Mentality" the outfielder has read. Unlike Bryant, who struggled in his first playoff appearances, Chourio has thrived in the postseason since his debut in 2024. His brother Jaison, an outfielder in the Cleveland Guardians system, is named after Shaquille O'Neal, reflecting the family's deep connection to the sport.