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MLB rookie check-in: Brewers' Dunn overtakes Chourio for top spot

Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Oliver Dunn (15). Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

MLB rookie check-in: Brewers' Oliver Dunn overtakes Jackson Chourio for top spot

By David Kull | Last updated 4/8/24

Oliver Dunn’s major league debut in the Milwaukee Brewers’ second game came with far less fanfare than what teammate Jackson Chourio received on Opening Day.

Chourio, arguably MLB’s top prospect, dazzled in his highly anticipated first game, providing a brief glimpse at his superstar potential.

The following day, with social media still abuzz about Chourio, Dunn was quietly inserted into the Brewers lineup and got his first major league hit in his third at-bat.

And the young infielder has been hitting ever since. While Chourio led our inaugural rookie ranking of 2024, Dunn’s surprising start has allowed him to overtake Chourio — for the time being.

Either way, the two rookies are a big reason why the Brewers have gotten off to a 6-2 start under new manager Pat Murphy.

Here is our second rookie ranking:

1. Oliver Dunn | 3B | Milwaukee Brewers

A former 11th-round draft pick who was acquired from Philadelphia this past offseason, Dunn had only 14 at-bats at the Triple-A level in 2022 and spent the entire 2023 season at Double-A Reading.

Yet, Dunn — the Brewers’ No. 22 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline — leads all rookies with a .945 OPS. Last week, he had a slash line of .333/.412/.667 and belted his first MLB home run. Hitting leadoff on Sunday, Dunn had his second two-hit game, which included a triple.

Career home run No. 1 for Oliver Dunn! pic.twitter.com/8BHwu6Dpur
— MLB (@MLB) April 6, 2024

2. Jackson Chourio | RF | Milwaukee Brewers

Chourio's 0.4 fWAR (the FanGraphs version of wins above replacement) is tied with Dunn for the best among all rookies and is largely attributed to his stellar defense.

Although he's already struck out 10 times, Chourio has been consistent at the plate as well, getting at least one hit in every game but one so far. He leads all rookies with seven RBI and is tied with Toronto’s Davis Schneider for the most home runs (two).

90-year-old Bob Uecker calling 20-year-old Jackson Chourio's first career home run pic.twitter.com/owdWHQvJSY
— Baseball Quotes (@BaseballQuotes1) April 4, 2024

3. Jackson Merrill | CF | San Diego Padres

Although the other Jackson — Chourio — edged him out for the No. 2 spot, Merrill had a four-hit game Sunday that lifted his batting average to .324, the best mark among rookies with at least 20 at-bats.

He finished the week hitting .438 (7-for-16), with his only extra-base hit being his first MLB homer. Merrill, who’s also a shortstop, ranks as MLB Pipeline’s No. 12 prospect.

Jackson Merrill became the second-youngest @Padres player to record a four-hit game.

The youngest? His current teammate: https://t.co/E0EbC1y5im pic.twitter.com/3l6V3XaYES
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 8, 2024

4. Brayan Rocchio | SS | Cleveland Guardians

Rocchio, the Guardians’ No. 3 prospect, rose one spot this week from No. 4 to No. 5. He checks in with a .858 OPS after a solid week in which he hit .333 (6-for-18) with a pair of doubles; his five doubles tie him with several others for the league lead.

His struggles defensively have been the biggest surprise. Although he's believed to have Gold Glove potential, Rocchio's defensive metrics are well below average, according to FanGraphs.

Brayan Rocchio with the RANGE!

The third-ranked @CleGuardians prospect (MLB No. 87) flashes his plus glove on this heady play: pic.twitter.com/XQ8c6YRUtS
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 3, 2024

5. Michael Busch | 1B | Chicago Cubs

Busch had a great weekend against his former team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, who traded him to Chicago this past winter. A former Dodgers first-round draft pick, Busch hit his first 2024 home run on Friday and then had a three-run double on Sunday as the Cubs took two out of three from the Dodgers. He’s now hitting .296 with a solid .856 OPS.