Jackson Chourio: Brewers' New Mr. October Shocks MLB

October has a new king in Milwaukee. On Saturday night at American Family Field, 22-year-old Jackson Chourio crushed a two-run homer in the third inning of NLDS Game 1 — and with that one swing, he became the Brewers' all-time postseason home run leader.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wasted no time: Chourio is officially the Brewers' "Mr. October." At an age when most players are still in Triple-A, he has five career playoff homers — more than any player in franchise history. The Brewers won 3-2, taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five National League Division Series.

The Swing That Made History

The moment arrived fast. The Brewers trailed 2-0 early after San Diego starter Robbie Ray and a patient Padres lineup jumped on rookie ace Jacob Misiorowski. In the bottom of the third, Garrett Mitchell led off with a broken-bat infield single and moved to second on a Joey Ortiz groundout. Up stepped Chourio.

He didn't waste a pitch. Ray offered an 86.6-mph slider on the inner half — his first pitch of the at-bat — and Chourio turned on it. The ball screamed off his bat at 113.3 mph and soared 420 feet into the left-center-field seats, sending the sellout crowd of 42,843 into a frenzy and tying the game 2-2.

The exit velocity is worth pausing on: 113.3 mph makes it the hardest-hit home run of Chourio's career — regular season or postseason. For a 22-year-old facing a veteran left-hander in the biggest game of the year, that kind of damage is absurd. FOX Sports called it a first-pitch ambush, and the Statcast numbers back up every superlative.

Chourio vs. Brewers Franchise Legends: The New Record

To understand how remarkable this is, consider who Chourio passed. He entered Game 1 tied with two very different names: Prince Fielder, the franchise's beloved power-hitting first baseman, and Orlando Arcia, the scrappy shortstop whose 2018 postseason heroics are etched into Brewers lore. Both finished their Milwaukee postseason careers with four home runs. Chourio needed one swing to leave them both behind.

Here's the updated franchise leaderboard:

Rank	Player	Postseason HR (Brewers)	Games
1	Jackson Chourio	5	13
T-2	Prince Fielder	4	26
T-2	Orlando Arcia	4	22
T-4	Ryan Braun	3	27
T-4	Jonathan Lucroy	3	25

That games column tells the real story. Chourio reached five postseason homers in just 13 games. Fielder and Arcia needed roughly twice as many chances, and Ryan Braun — the franchise's all-time regular-season home run king — managed three in 27 October games.

Elite Company: Schwarber, Soto, and History Before Age 23

The franchise record is impressive. The MLB-wide context is even better. With five postseason homers before his 23rd birthday, Chourio is now tied with Kyle Schwarber and Juan Soto for the most playoff home runs by any player before turning 23, according to MLB researcher Sarah Langs. That's not just a Brewers list — that's a baseball history list, and the names on it are two of the most feared October hitters of the last decade.

Here's another stat that should terrify opposing pitchers: Chourio has now homered in all four postseason series he has played in. Across 13 career playoff games, he has never gone an entire series without leaving the yard. Some players need a series or two to settle their nerves. Chourio treats October like it's June.

Player	Postseason HR before age 23
Jackson Chourio	5 (and counting)
Kyle Schwarber	5
Juan Soto	5

And this isn't a fluke season propping up a hot October. Chourio just completed the best season of his three-year career, slashing .291/.351/.487 with 25 home runs and 75 RBIs — setting career highs in hits, homers, average, on-base, and slugging. Sports Illustrated noted he's been one of Milwaukee's top batters all season, and the club will need him at his best to reach its first World Series since 1982.

Why This Win Changes Everything for Milwaukee

Let's zoom out, because this wasn't just a record — it was a statement win. The Brewers earned a first-round bye and home-field advantage after a franchise-record 103 wins. But October has been cruel to Milwaukee. When rookie ace Jacob Misiorowski — who led the majors with a 1.80 ERA and 252 strikeouts — labored through four innings and left trailing, the Brewers didn't fold. Chourio's homer tied it, then William Contreras launched a go-ahead solo shot off Adrian Morejon in the seventh. The bullpen slammed the door with five scoreless innings, closer Trevor Megill striking out Fernando Tatis Jr. in the eighth before finishing the ninth.

Game 1 showed why this year might be different. Milwaukee finished last in the NL with just 154 home runs — a small-ball club (832 runs, second-most in the league) that has struggled for October power. As Reuters pointed out, stringing together hits gets exponentially harder against elite October pitching. Chourio and Contreras going deep in the same game is exactly the injection this roster needs.

There was even a little October magic mixed in. In the ninth, Ty France sent a 105.3-mph line drive toward the left-field roof — and it struck the roof in fair territory, dropping into Chourio's glove under the stadium's ground rules. The Padres challenged; the ruling stood. Fitting that the newest Mr. October caught the final break of the night.

What Comes Next for Chourio and the Brewers

The Brewers now lead the series 1-0, and the momentum matters. Game 2 goes Sunday at American Family Field, with rookie Logan Henderson taking the mound for Milwaukee against San Diego's Michael King. Win that, and the Brewers head west with a 2-0 lead and three chances to close out the series.

For Chourio personally, the chase isn't over. Every additional October homer extends a record that is already his, and one more blast this series breaks his tie with Schwarber and Soto for pre-23 postseason homers. With the World Series drought stretching back to 1982, he has a chance to author the defining storyline of the franchise's most anticipated October in decades.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the biggest questions about Jackson Chourio's historic night and the Brewers' 2026 postseason run.

How old is Jackson Chourio?

Chourio is 22 years old. He became the Milwaukee Brewers' all-time postseason home run leader at 22, and he's tied with Kyle Schwarber and Juan Soto for the most postseason homers (5) by any player before turning 23.

How many postseason home runs does Jackson Chourio have?

Five career postseason home runs in 13 games — the most in Milwaukee Brewers franchise history. He passed Prince Fielder and Orlando Arcia, who each hit four.

How far was Jackson Chourio's NLDS Game 1 home run?

The homer traveled 420 feet to left-center field with a 113.3 mph exit velocity — the hardest-hit home run of Chourio's career, regular season or postseason. It came off a first-pitch 86.6-mph slider from Robbie Ray in the third inning.

Who did the Brewers beat in NLDS Game 1?

The Brewers defeated the San Diego Padres 3-2 on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, at American Family Field in front of 42,843 fans. William Contreras hit the go-ahead homer in the seventh inning, and Trevor Megill closed it out for the save.

Has Jackson Chourio homered in every postseason series he's played?

Yes. Chourio has homered in all four postseason series he has appeared in, spanning 13 career playoff games — a big reason he's already the franchise's October home run king.

When is NLDS Game 2?

Game 2 is Sunday at American Family Field. San Diego's Michael King is scheduled to start against Milwaukee rookie Logan Henderson, with the Brewers holding a 1-0 series lead.

The Bottom Line

Jackson Chourio is 22 years old, and he's already the greatest postseason power hitter in Brewers history. A 420-foot, 113.3-mph statement off Robbie Ray — the hardest-hit homer of his young career — rewrote the franchise record book and put Milwaukee one step closer to ending a 44-year World Series drought. Mr. October has a new name, and it's just getting started. October 2026 is delivering drama across every sport — don't miss Novak Djokovic's 2026 season as he chases a record 25th Grand Slam.

Sources: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Reuters, Sports Illustrated, FOX Sports. Stats via Statcast and MLB. Facts verified October 4, 2026.