The biggest riser in the Royals’ organization this year has been 17-year-old Kendry Chourio from Venezuela. Combined with 18-year-old David Shields, the Royals have an elite duo of teenage arms pitching for the Columbia Fireflies that have given fans a lot to be excited about.
Despite coming in at just 6’0”, 160 pounds, Chourio pumps heat. His fastball sits mid-90s and peaks at 97-98 with good run and carry through the zone. He also has a plus changeup that keeps hitters off balance and a solid curveball
with late 12-6 break. His command is incredible, and is even more impressive when you realize that he can’t even legally buy fireworks.
At such a young age, there will be plenty of time for Chourio to add muscle to his thin frame, and his velocity could get even higher. You seldom see a player with the blend of youth and stuff that is also able to consistently throw strikes the way Chourio has so far in his career.
Before making his first appearance in Colombia, Chourio pitched for two of the Royals’ rookie ball teams in the Dominican Republic and Arizona, where he put up some mind-boggling stats. Combined between the two teams, Chourio threw in 28.2 innings, only allowing 7 runs with 39 strikeouts and just four total walks. He also posted a sub-one WHIP, giving the confidence in the Royals organization to promote him to A ball.
Since getting to Colombia, there have been some bumps in the road, which is to be expected for a 17-year-old kid making the jump to affiliated ball. His first game with the Fireflies was great, and he was as advertised, pitching four innings, allowing one run with four Ks, but he looked even better than the stats would suggest. His sole run allowed came off soft contact, and the execution was there for all of his pitches, and his confidence on the mound was impressive.
It was the second game in Colombia where he ran into some trouble. Over just 3.2 innings, Chourio was knocked around, giving up six runs on six hits, most of which came from two home runs. He also hit a batter and allowed his only walk of the year, but the confidence remained, and he continued to attack hitters from start to finish.
On Thursday, all eyes were on Chourio to see how he would respond after one of the worst outings of his professional career. All he did was step onto the mound and go 5 perfect innings, striking out four and showing a maturity well beyond his years. Chourio delivered a gem, attacking hitters and showing confidence in his ability to get outs after struggling just a week prior.
For so many young pitchers, one bad game can lead to a long downswing and a lack of confidence. Even some of the best major league pitchers can struggle to find the resilience to return from a bad outing with the confidence Chourio displayed on Thursday. He just got on the mound and did his job like it was any other day at the office, and that is exactly what pitching coaches want to see from their best young arms. Overall, Chourio has started four games for the Fireflies, allowing eight runs for a 4.02 ERA, but with 17 strikeouts and just 3 walks, an impressive ratio.
The last month of baseball in Colombia has been fun to watch, with some of the best young pitcher prospects in baseball putting on a show twice a week. The expectations for Chourio are sky high, and so far, he has yet to disappoint. Now he and David Shields have provided hope at the lower levels of the minors, and they will likely move through the organization at a similar pace.
The future is bright in Kansas City, and the pitching talent in the organization has stretched from top to bottom. Chourio will be one of the hottest names in Kansas City’s minor leagues for the next several years, and he has the stuff to become a front-end starter in a few short years. Chourio has been impressive so far in his professional career, but this is only the beginning, and if all goes according to plan, he could become a staple in the Royals’ future rotation.
