"Proud of you always, I love you" - Jackson Chourio's girlfriend Gabriela Alejandra reacts to Brewers star's performance at Pepsi Jonrón 2024

For baseball fans in Venezuela, the emergence of Jackson Chourio was the story of the 2024 season. At just 20 years old, the Brewers outfielder put forth a season of tremendous offensive success. Now, the young star has brought his talent back to his homeland.

On Monday, the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League took a pause for the 2024 Pepsi Home Run Festival - known locally as the Pepsi Jonrón. Among those competing was Chourio. During the competition at “Simón Bolívar” Monumental Stadium in Caracas, Chourio's girlfriend Gabriela captured him some hitting dingers, and posted it on Instagram.

Jackson Chourio going deep at the 2024 Pepsi Junron - Instagram/gabrielaap

"Proud of you always, I love you" - Gabriela captioned the post, translated from Spanish.

Chourio was not the only MLB calibre name in attendance. Among those competing were several Venezuela big league names, such as Houston Astros star and former AL MVP Jose Altuve, Eugenio Suarez, William Contreras, and Luisangel Acuna.

Jackson Chourio performed well enough to meet Eugenio Suarez in the final. Although the Brewers rookie clobbered twelve bombs in the final round, it was no match for the Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman. Suarez won the competition on account of his 12 home runs in the final round.

"JACKSON CHOURIO AND EUGENIO SUÁREZ IN THE PEPSI HOME RUN FESTIVAL FINAL!" - El Extrabase

A native of the city of Maracaibo in northeastern Venezuela, Chourio attracted the attention of several MLB clubs as a teenager. In early 2021, when he was just 19 years old, the Milwaukee Brewers signed Chourio to a $1.9 million signing bonus.

In 2024, the outfielder broke into MLB, and did not look back. In 148 games for Milwaukee this past season, Chourio hit .275/.327/.464 with 21 home runs and 79 RBIs. The outstanding showing was enough for Chourio to finish third in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

Jackson Chourio had coaches and teammates taken with strong rookie season

Despite cruising to another NL Central title, the Brewers were eliminated in the first round by the Mets. However, manager Pat Murphy's performance was enough for him to win the NL Manager of the Year Award. Murphy himself was dazzled by Chourio's season, as he told MLB.com last month:

“It’s just an incredible story, I feel privileged to be part of it, to be honest with you.”

A player who likely has many decades of MLB prominence ahead of him, winning the Pepsi Junron will be the least of Chourio's aspirations going forward.