Jackson Chourio has taken the major leagues by storm this season as a 20-year-old.
Milwaukee Brewers first-round draft pick Braylon Payne believes he possesses the same type of precociousness, and he reiterated what he told reporters after signing with the team on July 23.
"Spend less than a year at every single place – that's my goal," Payne, who turned 18 on Aug. 14, said Monday. He was at American Family Field in advance of the Brewers' big series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies to take major-league batting practice, a ritual afforded each season to the team's top choice.
"Get here when I'm 21."
Chourio made major-league history last week in San Francisco, becoming the youngest player in history to accrue 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases . His incredible statistical surge since the calendar flipped to June has made him a bona fide contender for the National League Rookie of the Year Award.
"It's kind of crazy because he's only two years older than me," said Payne. "And for him to be here, that's a big goal of mine and was a big goal for him."
Payne hit in the last group with players like Jake Bauers and Isaac Collins and generally acquitted himself well, yanking several home runs well out of the park while also displaying a swing that can be directed to all fields.
"It's amazing that they allowed me to come back out here after I signed and finished my season, and be around big-leaguers and experience this," Payne said.
While he didn't get a chance to meet Chourio, Payne did enjoy some quality time around the batting cage with Christian Yelich.
"He told me to just soak everything in, because it goes really fast," Payne said. "He gave me some great tips."
Payne, the 17th overall pick who signed for a reported $3.44 million after a standout career at Elkins High School in Missouri City, Texas, was fortunate enough to get his first small taste of professional baseball when the Brewers shipped him from team headquarters in Arizona to Class A Carolina.
The left-handed-hitting Payne acquitted himself well in a four-game stint for the Mudcats, batting .438 with a double, triple and five runs batted in. A 4-for-4, three-RBI performance was the highlight for him.
"I pretty much made a name for myself, in my opinion," Payne said. "Definitely take this moving forward. Lit a fire under me. I'm very excited that they moved me up to play in Carolina for the playoffs."
The 6-foot-2, 192-pound Payne has some very specific goals for his upcoming offseason.
"I'm going to go to instructionals and then high-performance camp," he said. "During that time I'm going to try to get to 205 and keep the swing the exact same, because it's been working out.
"Eat a lot of steaks."
What has Payne learned since officially becoming a member of the organization a little less than two months ago?
"That there's lows and highs," he said. "You've got to just ride the wave because one game I can go 4 for 4 and the next game I could go 0 for 4. It's two different days, but you don't change yourself just because of one bad game."
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 'Get here when I'm 21': Brewers first-round pick Braylon Payne doesn't back off lofty goal
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