Brewers Star Jackson Chourio Remains in Venezuela After U.S. Strike
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio, one of baseball’s brightest young stars, is still in his native Venezuela as the country reels from the dramatic overnight U.S. military operation that captured President Nicolás Maduro.
According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the Brewers confirmed that several players, including Chourio, were in Venezuela when explosions shook Caracas and airstrikes hit multiple regions on January 3. As families scrambled for information and communication lines flickered, the team worked urgently to determine how and when its players could safely return to the United States.
Brewers Scramble for Answers as Situation Shifts
Hours before the U.S. strike, Chourio delivered one of his biggest performances of the Venezuelan winter league season — an extra‑inning home run that lifted Águilas del Zulia to a playoff-opening win. He told reporters he had “very few games left” in his winter stint, with the Brewers and Chourio already aligned on a return date before the postseason wrapped later in January.
That timeline changed instantly when U.S. forces launched what officials later described as a coordinated, large‑scale strike that resulted in Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, being captured and flown out of the country. The operation, involving more than 150 aircraft across the Western Hemisphere, sent shockwaves through Venezuela and left American players scrambling to understand what came next.
For the Brewers, the priority became simple: locate their players, assess their safety, and begin planning an exit strategy from a country suddenly facing a power vacuum and widespread uncertainty.
Chourio’s Postseason Push Interrupted by Crisis
Chourio had returned home not just to play, but to join his brother Jaison in a postseason push that had energized fans in Zulia. The Chourio brothers were central figures in Águilas del Zulia’s playoff hopes, with Jackson’s debut drawing national attention and his bat quickly becoming one of the most dangerous in the league.
But as news of Maduro’s capture spread, baseball became secondary. Games continued, but the atmosphere shifted. Streets filled with a mix of celebration, fear, and confusion. Some Venezuelans saw the U.S. intervention as a chance for long‑awaited change. Others worried it would deepen instability in a nation already struggling with shortages, political division, and economic collapse.
For players like Chourio, the postseason suddenly existed alongside curfews, military presence, and uncertainty about transportation and communication. The Brewers continued coordinating with local contacts, but the timeline for his return remained unclear.
What Comes Next for Chourio and Other Brewers in Venezuela
The Brewers acknowledged that the situation was fluid and that they were working “hour by hour” to determine the safest path forward. With Maduro expected to face charges in New York and the U.S. signaling it would “run the country” temporarily while rebuilding Venezuela’s oil infrastructure, the timeline for stability remains unknown.
For now, Chourio remains with family and teammates, staying connected with the Brewers as conditions evolve. His winter league heroics — including that extra‑inning home run — may end up being his final moments on the field this offseason, depending on how quickly the team can arrange travel.
