Brewers ace Jhoulys Chacín continues living his dream

LOS ANGELES – Jhoulys Chacín will toe a familiar rubber to start a critical Game 3 of the National League Championship Series for the Milwaukee Brewers. The 30-year-old right-hander spent the first six years of his career with the Colorado Rockies. He also spent time with the Diamondbacks and Padres, two other NL West teams.

A few years ago, starting an important playoff game was far from Chacin’s mind with arm issues threatening to derail a promising career. The veteran needed to reinvent himself to eventually become the ace of the Milwaukee staff.

“I think it has been very good season, and not so much due to the results, but because I was healthy all year and I helped my team arrive where we are today.”

The Comeback

In 2013 it appeared Chacín was on his way to being a key part of the Rockies’ staff. He won 14 times in 31 starts and threw 197 1/3 innings. Then the physical issues began to stall his ascent.

Chacín appeared in only 11 games in 2014 and five in 2015 with Arizona. He made the move to the American League and struggled with the Angels before being dealt to Atlanta late in the 2017 season.

San Diego took a chance on Chacín in 2017, giving him 32 starts as he worked his way back. When Milwaukee signed him before the 2018 season, Chacín knew it was a great opportunity.

“You always want to improve yourself year after year. The only thing I’ve always wanted is to be healthy. Thank God I could keep myself healthy and I could have what I consider the best season of my career.”

Rewarding Milwaukee

Chacín started a NL-leading 35 games this season, pitching 192 2/3 innings. He established a new career high for wins with 15 and struck out a career-best 156.

Before Game 2 of the NLCS, Chacín gave credit to the Brewers catchers, noting the strong communication he’s had with them throughout the season. He has featured more sliders than ever this season.

Chacín got one start in the Division Series against the Rockies and threw five shutout innings, making manager Craig Counsell a happy man.

“He was magnificent,” Counsell told the media after Game 2 of the NLDS. “He got into a couple jams… where he had to make big pitches, and as he got into those jams, he made great pitches to [Trevor] Story [and] to [Nolan] Arenado.”

He’s been so dependable that Counsell opting to wait to put Chacín on the mound until Game 3 of the NLCS raised eyebrows before the series began.

“The Brewers gave me the chance to pitch in the playoffs,” Chacín said. “That was my dream, trying to pitch in the playoffs, and I think Milwaukee was the right place to do that. I can’t be more happy right now.”

As for whether there’s added pressure pitching in the post-season after a year of staying healthy, Chacín finds the added attention to be good for this game.

“I always knew it was something different and that the adrenaline, the pressure, and the desire to win were going to be greater. It is something that you have to experience to truly enjoy it.”

For now, he’s looking forward, game by game.

“[To] have a chance to pitch one more game, maybe two, and hopefully pitch in the World Series, that’s something that I always dreamed about.”

Additional reporting: Cesar Marquez

Featured Image: Dylan Buell / Getty Images Sport