'You're being supported by this whole state:' MLB Network interview brings Jackson Chourio, Robin Yount together

MLB Network aired a miniature feature Thursday morning of an interview with Milwaukee Brewers legend Robin Yount and rookie phenom Jackson Chourio, together for the first time. MLB Network's Jon Morosi moderated the meet-up the morning after the Brewers clinched the National League Central.

The two figures have a unique link in franchise lore. Yount, of course, spent all 20 seasons of his Hall of Fame career in Milwaukee, beginning as an 18-year-old in 1974. An even 50 years later, Chourio debuted as the youngest player on a Brewers roster since Yount, and he delivered with a tremendous 20/20 season — homers and stolen bases — while fronting Milwaukee's charge to a division title.

Meeting at Blue's Egg in Milwaukee for breakfast, Morosi helped translate when necessary as the two discussed their place in the Brewers franchise.

"He is so far ahead of where I was at that same stage," said Yount, who has many times noted the situation only came about because the Brewers weren't yet competitive and could afford to be unconventional. "When I was his age, I just had peach fuzz. I couldn't grow a beard. I was in on-the-job training for five years before I felt like I established myself as a major-leaguer. Jackson here is showing us he's a major-leaguer today."

Over his first six MLB seasons, Yount had a .270 batting average but a .672 OPS, below the league average — OPS-plus of 89, with 100 being average. He hit 34 homers in those six years combined. As a rookie in 1974, Yount had a .250 average, a .622 OPS and three homers, with seven stolen bases in 107 games.

Chourio, on the other hand, has a .272 average as a rookie, a .791 OPS, a 118 OPS-plus and 21 homers with 21 steals entering Thursday.

"I tried to do too much at first," Chourio said about his slow start to 2024. "But once I relaxed, I realized I needed to just calm down and keep playing. ... The truth is that the day I arrived here at the organization, they've treated me incredibly. I view them as a family as well."

The highlight of the interview came when Morosi produced a tablet that showed the final out of the 1982 American League Championship Series. Yount fielded a bouncer off the bat of Rod Carew and threw to first, sealing a 4-3 win in Game 5 of the series that sent the Brewers to their first — and still only — World Series.

Chourio became emotional watching the clip of the celebratory aftermath, with tears in his eyes as he commented, "Incredible." Morosi asked why the footage had struck him that way.

"Because you can see not only did the team win, but so did the fans."

Added Yount, "That's not just Milwaukee. That's the whole state of Wisconsin. You're being supported by this whole state."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 'You're being supported by this whole state:' MLB Network interview brings Jackson Chourio, Robin Yount together