It is time. The Milwaukee Brewers are promoting shortstop prospect Cooper Pratt to the major leagues. Pratt signed an eight-year contract extension with the Brewers worth north of $50 million back in April. Now, at long last, he will arrive in Milwaukee.
Pratt was removed from the Triple-A Nashville Sounds game on Sunday in the sixth inning and, as Spencer Michaelis first reported, was giving hugs to his teammates in the dugout, a sure sign that a promotion was imminent. MLB’s Adam McCalvy later confirmed that Pratt was officially getting the call.
Cooper Pratt was hitting .241 with six doubles, four triples, six homers, 17 stolen bases, and a .735 OPS on the season in Nashville. He started off slow, but has been much better over the last several weeks.
Pratt brings Gold Glove-level defense at shortstop and is likely going to be playing at shortstop quite regularly for the Brewers going forward.
A corresponding move has not yet been announced, but it has been speculated that it will have something to do with Luis Rengifo. Ken Rosenthal reported a few weeks ago that June 15 was a date to circle because it’s the first day teams can trade free agents in the first year of their deals. Perhaps the Brewers have a trade lined up for Rengifo; we shall see. Also, a DFA isn’t out of the question for him. Rengifo also had the trainer check on him twice during Sunday’s game, once for his wrist after an awkward fall and once after fouling a ball off his shin. An IL stint could also be a possibility.
David Hamilton has been solid of late, and Joey Ortiz is still a strong defender. Ortiz could slide into more of a utility role and has played third base in the past.
The Brewers are off on Monday, so that would mean Pratt’s debut is slated to come on Tuesday night against the Cleveland Guardians.