The Milwaukee Brewers are riding high after a thrilling weekend sweep of the New York Yankees, capped by back-to-back walk-off victories. As the NL Central contenders look to maintain their momentum, some analysts are calling for the promotion of one of baseball's most intriguing prospects.
FanSided's Christopher Kline has urged the Brewers to consider calling up infield prospect Cooper Pratt, who signed an eye-catching eight-year, $50.5 million extension before ever stepping into a Major League batter's box. While Pratt's numbers at Triple-A aren't jumping off the page—he's currently posting a .612 OPS—his value lies elsewhere.
"He's a potential Gold Glove defender at a premium position, with a laundry list of intangible traits Milwaukee tends to value," Kline noted. With the Brewers not needing to worry about service time manipulation, the path to The Show appears clear.
The timing is particularly interesting given current shortstop Joey Ortiz's struggles. Despite providing solid defense, Ortiz has managed just a .443 OPS across 94 plate appearances—a figure that's hard to ignore even in a small sample size.
However, patience may be the smarter play. Pratt is still just 21 years old with fewer than 35 games of Triple-A experience. The Brewers invested heavily in his future for a reason, and with the team already performing well, there's no need to rush his development. Sometimes the best move is waiting for the right moment—especially when you've already shown your faith with a $50.5 million commitment.
