Jackson Chourio made a thunderous return to the diamond on Monday, delivering a perfect 4-for-4 performance in his 2026 debut after a stint on the injured list. The Milwaukee Brewers' dynamic outfielder wasted no time reminding fans why he's one of the game's most exciting young stars, smacking a pair of doubles in the Brewers' 6-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Chourio and teammate Andrew Vaughn were both activated earlier in the day after recovering from fractured bones in their left hands. While Chourio shined, Vaughn struggled, going 0-for-4 in his first action since suffering the injury during the Brewers' season opener.
"Physically, I feel really, really good right now," Chourio told reporters through interpreter Daniel de Mondesert before the game. "Thanks to God, I'm going to be able to go out there and give my everything."
The Brewers have been desperately searching for offensive firepower while Chourio, Vaughn, and 2018 NL MVP Christian Yelich have all been sidelined. Yelich has been out since April 12 with an adductor strain. The team's power outage has been stark—Brice Turang's two-run homer in the ninth inning on Monday was just Milwaukee's 23rd of the season, a total that only the San Francisco Giants have failed to surpass. Entering Monday, the Brewers' .354 slugging percentage ranked ahead of only the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets.
Chourio's return couldn't come at a better time. The 22-year-old phenom has already established himself as a rare talent, collecting at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in each of his first two major league seasons. Vaughn, acquired from the Chicago White Sox last year, had been a bright spot with nine homers and an .869 OPS in 64 games for Milwaukee in 2025.
Chourio's injury journey began during a March 4 World Baseball Classic exhibition game for Venezuela against the Washington Nationals, when he was hit by a pitch from Clayton Beeter. What initially seemed minor became a bigger issue when Chourio felt discomfort during a check swing in late March. An MRI revealed a small hairline fracture at the base of the third metacarpal—a break that hadn't been visible during initial testing after the March 4 game.
To make room on the roster, Milwaukee optioned outfielder Blake Perkins to Triple-A Nashville and designated outfielder Greg Jones for assignment. With Chourio back in the lineup and showing no signs of rust, the Brewers' offense finally has a spark to build around as they look to climb the standings.