Jackson Chourio Takes a Left-Handed Swing in Unconventional At-Bat

Brewers Outfielder Swings from Opposite Side

In a moment that drew attention during the Milwaukee Brewers’ doubleheader sweep against the St. Louis Cardinals, outfielder Jackson Chourio stepped to the plate and batted left-handed. This unexpected move occurred during the ninth inning of the second game, a 10-2 victory for the Brewers at Busch Stadium.

A Dare and a Good Time

Chourio, who is primarily a right-handed hitter, explained that the decision to bat left-handed was a result of a dare from his teammates. The game had already turned into a comfortable win for the Brewers after a seven-run seventh inning. With utility man Bryan Torres on the mound for the Cardinals in the final innings, the atmosphere in the game became more relaxed.

“They asked me before if I wanted to try hitting left-handed, and I told them, ‘yeah,’” Chourio said through a translator. “I had fun doing it. One of the most important parts of this game is to just have fun. Thanks to God, it was pretty good contact there.”

The pitch in question was an eephus pitch from Torres, floating in at a slow 34.9 mph. Chourio connected with the ball, sending it a projected 360 feet before it was caught by Cardinals center fielder Nathan Church just short of the warning track. Chourio expressed surprise at the distance the ball traveled. This marked Chourio’s first recorded MLB at-bat from the left side of the plate.

Manager’s Reaction

Brewers manager Pat Murphy acknowledged the unique situation, praising Chourio’s athleticism. “He looked good,” Murphy stated. “It was the first time he’s swung the bat left-handed in years, he said, but he looked really good. He’s an athlete. He’s a baseball player.”

Chourio himself echoed the sentiment of enjoyment. “It was something new,” he said. “I tried it, and I had fun doing it.” The Brewers team also enjoyed the moment, capping off their successful doubleheader with the Cardinals.

Key facts

This unusual at-bat highlights the personality and athleticism present in today’s game. While not a strategic move, Chourio’s willingness to experiment and have fun adds a different dimension to the sport, offering a glimpse into the lighter moments that can occur even in competitive professional baseball.

Source: MLB Official News RSS – https://www.mlb.com/news/jackson-chourio-bats-left-handed