Milwaukee Brewers superstar Jackson Chourio finds himself in a situation most baseball fans never expected–stuck in his home country of Venezuela amid growing political unrest and uncertainty. The 21-year-old outfielder, one of the most exciting young talents in Major League Baseball, had traveled to Venezuela to play in the Venezuelan Winter League for the Águilas del Zulia, a familiar offseason destination for him during his career.
Chourio’s decision to play winter ball this year was rooted both in a love for the game and a desire to stay sharp during the offseason. He has spent several offseasons competing in the Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional, which offers both meaningful baseball and the chance to play in front of family and fans in his homeland.
Yet recent developments in Venezuela, including U.S. military action that reportedly targeted political power structures, have thrust Chourio and other MLB players into a fraught situation with rapidly shifting logistics and safety concerns.
Brewers Monitoring Safety; Return Plans in Flux
As of early January, the Brewers organization confirmed that Chourio, along with other players, remains in Venezuela, with limited clarity on when they can return safely to the United States. In a statement to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said the club was working “hour by hour” to stay updated and coordinate departures as conditions evolve.
Communication challenges have complicated matters. With airport closures, flickering communication lines and rapidly changing political landscapes, the Brewers are struggling to gather real-time information on their personnel’s exact situations. Social media posts and fan reports indicate that players like Chourio and teammate Andruw Monasterio are still competing or residing in Venezuela, but official updates have been sparse.
The uncertainty has understandably shifted the focus from baseball to safety. While the LVBP season had offered a competitive and familial environment for Chourio–including a postseason push with Zulia alongside his brother, Jaison Chourio (a top five Cleveland Guardians prospect )–the geopolitical turmoil has forced the Brewers and their players to reassess priorities mid-offseason.
While Jackson’s winter league production has been slower out of the gate, with just two hits in his first 16 plate appearances, Jaison has been red-hot at the plate. He is slashing .327/.405/.433 through 41 games for Águilas del Zulia and delivered a standout performance Friday night, driving in seven runs in the club’s 14-3 win over the Leones de Caracas , further highlighting the Chourio family’s impact in the Venezuelan Winter League.
Chourio’s Offseason Performance and Baseball Context
Before the current unrest, Chourio was enjoying a productive winter league stint, adding meaningful at-bats and staying mentally tuned after his first full MLB seasons. The Venezuelan Winter League often serves as both a developmental platform and a homecoming for Venezuelan ballplayers, helping them refine skills while giving local fans the opportunity to watch stars up close.
According to Reviewing the Brew , “Chourio’s Venezuelan Winter League debut was delayed due to his hamstring injury, but last week he finally made his debut with just seven games left in the league’s regular season.”
There has been no indication from the Brewers that the injury is expected to impact his availability for the 2026 MLB season. Chourio’s return to game action in Venezuela suggests the issue was more precautionary than serious, with the organization likely focused on ensuring he entered spring training fully healthy rather than pushing him too quickly during winter ball.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us .
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Brewers Working to Bring Players Home From Venezuela Amid Uncertainty appeared first on Heavy Sports .