MILWAUKEE (AP) — Just two and a half months after the Milwaukee Brewers handed shortstop prospect Cooper Pratt an eight-year, $50.75 million deal, the 21-year-old has officially arrived in the big leagues.
Milwaukee promoted Pratt from Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday, timing the move to coincide with the start of a three-game homestand against the Cleveland Guardians. To clear a spot on the roster, the Brewers designated third baseman Luis Rengifo for assignment.
The Brewers made their commitment to Pratt clear when they inked him to his long-term contract on April 3. The deal runs through eight years and includes club options for the 2034 and 2035 seasons. Built-in escalators could push the total value up by another $10 million if Pratt finishes high in MVP voting on multiple occasions and the team exercises both options.
Pratt earned a Gold Glove award as the premier shortstop in the minor leagues in 2024, and his defensive excellence has remained a constant. His bat, however, is still a developing part of his game.
Through 58 games with Nashville this season, Pratt was batting .241 with a .349 on-base percentage, six home runs, 32 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases. A year ago with Double-A Biloxi, he hit .238 with a .343 on-base percentage, eight homers, 62 RBIs, and 31 steals across 120 games.
Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold spoke to Pratt’s overall potential when the contract was announced. “We believe in the bat,” Arnold said. “We believe in the glove, certainly. This guy is really toolsy, too. He’s very athletic. He’s a big, physical kid, so we think there’s a chance to grow into some power. And he can really run. When you have that kind of athletic foundation, it’s a really good thing.”
As long as Pratt continues to shine defensively the way he did in the minors, the organization appears willing to give his offensive game time to develop.
Milwaukee’s infield has struggled offensively on the left side all year, yet the club still entered Tuesday’s action holding a 4.5-game advantage over St. Louis in the NL Central as it chases a fourth consecutive division championship. David Hamilton had been sharing duties at shortstop with Joey Ortiz and at third base with Rengifo.
Hamilton is hitting .231 with a .316 on-base percentage, .320 slugging percentage, three home runs, 11 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases in 58 games. Ortiz has posted a .207 average with a .299 on-base percentage, .262 slugging percentage, one homer, 14 RBIs, and five steals in 60 games. Rengifo, now designated for assignment, was batting .205 with a .280 on-base percentage, .254 slugging percentage, no home runs, 19 RBIs, and three steals in 57 games.
Pratt is not the only Brewers minor leaguer to land a big-money contract this year. Luis Lara, a 21-year-old outfielder also playing for Nashville, signed a seven-year, $31 million deal just last week.
