One of the biggest storylines early in the season was the number of prospects getting long-term extensions. Three prospects were given long-term extensions before they even made their major league debut. So far, two of them have been called up: Konnor Griffin and Colt Emerson. Both of which have had decent success at the big-league level. The only one who received a contract and has yet to prove himself at the big-league level is Cooper Pratt of the Milwaukee Brewers.
However, it appears that will no longer be the case. On Sunday, June 14th, the Brewers announced they were calling up Pratt, who is expected to make his debut on Tuesday against the Cleveland Guardians. The shortstop is the fourth-best prospect in the Brewers system and the 63rd overall prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. But what can we expect from Pratt in his rookie campaign, and will he help the Brewers make it back to the postseason?
Can Cooper Pratt Make an Impact For the Brewers
The Brewers have viewed Pratt as a key part of the organization’s future even before he was part of the organization. During the pre-draft process, Pratt was viewed as a late first-round talent. But his commitment to Ole Miss caused him to fall to the sixth round. The Brewers knew it was gonna take a massive financial commitment to get him to sign and not go to Oxford. So the Brewers decided to take players they knew they could sign for cheap in the first five rounds, then drafted Pratt 182nd overall.
Throughout his time in the minors, he has flashed significant potential. Over his five years in the minors, he has slashed .256/.354/.379 with 22 career home runs and 147 RBIs. While these numbers do not jump off the page, Pratt has always been one of the youngest players in his league. Last season in Double-A, he was almost four years younger than the average player, and five years younger than the average Triple-A player this year. He probably can produce an average somewhere between .260 and .270 and around 15 home runs
But what makes Pratt such an intriguing prospect is his defensive capabilities. He has been seen as one of the better defenders in the minors. He even won the 2024 minor league gold glove at shortstop. He has good speed, which gives him decent range, and a strong arm that allows him to get runners out from deep. This gives him the ability to stay at shortstop or slide over to third if need be. Having this versatility will be a huge bonus for the Brewers.
It’s most likely that Pratt is going to replace either Joey Ortiz or Luis Rengifo on the left side of the infield. While both of these players are good defensively, they have struggled at the plate this season. Both of them have produced an OPS under .600 and have only one home run between them. When you’re battling for a playoff spot, you can not have production like this in your order. The hope is that Pratt can be an upgrade over one of them and maintain the same level of defense.
While this is a risky move, it can be the move that sets them apart. In a tough NL Central, Pratt could be the piece that allows the Brewers to run away with the division.
