As the Milwaukee Brewers prepare for the 2026 MLB season, two notable players are expected to lead the charge offensively alongside veteran left-handed slugger Christian Yelich.
Those two are outfielder Jackson Chourio and catcher William Contreras, both of whom have continued to take meaningful steps forward in their development and importance to the organization.
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Chourio’s future was secured long before he made his big-league debut, as the Brewers signed him to an eight-year, $82 million extension in December 2023. The 21-year-old has largely lived up to the hype that surrounded him as one of baseball’s top prospects.
His combination of power, speed and defensive ability has already made him a foundational piece, and the Brewers view him as a long-term franchise pillar with star-level upside.
Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11)© Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
(© Benny Sieu-Imagn Images)
Contreras, meanwhile, finds himself in a different situation. He has only two years of team control remaining before he can potentially enter free agency, and Milwaukee is not a club known for significant payroll flexibility.
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Retaining him long-term could be challenging, which adds even more weight to the impact he brings both on the field and inside the clubhouse. On a roster filled with young talent, Contreras has become one of the steady veteran voices the Brewers lean on.
That leadership was on display Tuesday when MLB announced a projection predicting Chourio would take another step forward in 2026.
Chourio shared the announcement in a collaborated post, and Contreras jumped into the comments with a message. “Wow, you are so talented 😍,” he wrote.
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Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras comments under Jackson Chourio’s Instagram post on Jan. 27, 2026@williamcontreras42 on Instagram
(@williamcontreras42 on Instagram)
It was a small gesture, but one that reflected the genuine support and belief he has in his young teammate.
Chourio’s numbers back up the optimism. In 2025, he posted a .270 batting average, .308 on-base percentage, .770 OPS, 21 home runs and 21 stolen bases across 131 games.
Contreras, despite battling multiple injuries throughout the season, remained productive behind the plate, finishing with a .260 batting average, .355 on-base percentage, .754 OPS, 17 home runs and 76 RBIs across 150 games.
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Together, Chourio and Contreras form the core of Milwaukee’s offensive identity heading into 2026, and their continued growth will be central to the Brewers’ hopes of contending in the National League.
Related: Christian Yelich Sends Message to Freddy Peralta After Brewers-Mets Trade
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.