The minor league season ended two months ago, but one of the Cleveland Guardians’ most intriguing outfield prospects is about to get back to work. Jaison Chourio is heading home to Venezuela for another winter of baseball, and he will be playing in front of a familiar crowd. The 21 year old switch hitter grew up in Maracaibo, and he is suiting up again for his hometown club. It will be his fourth stint in the Venezuelan Winter League, which is one of the toughest offseason circuits in the world.
“Cleveland #Guardians 21-year-old switch-hitting OF prospect Jaison Chourio will join his Venezuelan Winter League club Aguilas del Zulia on Sunday making his season debut,” Guardians Prospective wrote.
Cleveland #Guardians 21-year-old switch-hitting OF prospect Jaison Chourio will join his Venezuelan Winter League club Aguilas del Zulia on Sunday making his season debut.#StandGuard
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) November 8, 2026
The last time Chourio played for Águilas, it went extremely well. He hit .323 with a .408 on-base percentage, two home runs, 22 RBIs and nine stolen bases in 45 games last winter, holding his own against plenty of former and current big leaguers. That success carried right into his 2026 season.
Chourio opened the year at High-A Lake County and hit .317 with a .907 OPS in 22 games, earning a promotion to Double-A Akron on May 3. A brief stint on the injured list slowed him down shortly after he arrived, but he settled in and finished the season with the RubberDucks. Between the two levels, he hit .274 with a .376 on-base percentage, nine home runs, 56 RBIs and 42 stolen bases in 115 games. He did it at Akron while more than two years younger than the average player in the Eastern League.
Speed and patience have always been the foundation of his game. Over five minor league seasons, Chourio has 130 stolen bases and a .402 on-base percentage, with 314 walks against 337 strikeouts. He stole 44 bases in 2024 at Single-A Lynchburg while drawing 86 walks, and he has gotten on base at a strong clip at nearly every stop. He can also handle all three outfield spots, with most of his work coming in center field.
The name may sound familiar for a reason. Chourio’s older brother, Jackson, is the star outfielder for the Milwaukee Brewers, who just won the World Series. Jaison has a different profile, with more on-base ability and less power, but he has his own path to the majors.
The 2025 season was a setback, as an injury limited him and he managed just a .665 OPS. His bounce back in 2026 was an encouraging sign, and the next step is adding more extra-base power. He hit 26 doubles and nine homers this season, both improvements, and another strong winter could help him carry that growth into 2027.
With Steven Kwan potentially on the trade block and the outfield picture in Cleveland still taking shape, Chourio is a name worth watching. A strong showing at home this winter could set him up for a run at Triple-A Columbus next season, putting him one step away from Progressive Field.
NEXT: One Guardians Prospect Could Be Key To Unlocking Offense
