Prospect Showdown, Shortstop of the Future Edition: Cooper Pratt vs. Juan Báez

Both Cooper Pratt and Juan Báez were in their age-18 seasons in 2023. Pratt turned 19 in August, while Báez hit 18 in June. Both performed well in the Maryvale squad’s championship run, and both saw action at multiple infield positions for the Arizona Complex League Brewers. Each has a strong claim to be a blue-chip prospect for the Crew, at a highly valuable position. Let’s look at the case each of them can make.

The Case For Juan Báez
Baez’s case is simple: He was, arguably, the MVP of the 2023 ACL Brewers, posting a .952 OPS with 24 extra-base hits in 192 at-bats, then added three more doubles in a short stint at full-season Low A in Zebulon, N.C. Add in 19 stolen bases in 21 attempts, and you have what looks like a dynamic offensive package from a bargain signing ($10,000, per MLB Pipeline).

Baez only walked 10 times in 2023, but that figure isn’t a red flag when you consider that he struck out at only a 12.2% rate, and that includes his late-season cup of coffee with the Mudcats. To put that into perspective, Jackson Chourio posted a 12.9% strikeout rate in the second half of 2023. In other words, Baez’s ability to hit for contact is impressive, even if it's less advanced that Chourio's. Pipeline also noted that Báez made adjustments from a solid 2022 season in the DSL. He began spraying the ball to all fields, as opposed to being a mere pull hitter.

Báez has been dinged over defensive struggles at shortstop and third base, where he made 18 errors over 46 games. Scouting reports say that the issues on defense are “fixable,” though, and if so, then he could be a threat to post double figures in doubles, triples, homers, and steals at shortstop, provided the power continues to develop. 

In the (relative) worst case, Báez becomes a bat-first option at shortstop. If that is the situation, it’s still not a bad outcome. When an OPS is in the .900s, then sub-.900 fielding percentages are a lot easier to live with.

The Case For Cooper Pratt
The Brewers drafted Pratt (previously rated as a top-100 pick by FanGraphs, MLB Pipeline, and Baseball America, in the sixth round of the 2023 draft. They managed to sign him for a $1.3-million bonus, wooing him away from a commitment to Ole Miss. Like Báez, Pratt is a high-contact bat, with his Brewer Fanatic Top 20 listing noting his miss rate was 12%.

In 12 games with the ACL Brewers, he posted a .356/.426/.444 line, with five walks and 11 strikeouts in 45 at-bats. Pratt also added four stolen bases, showing in-game speed and smart baserunning. More notably, Pratt’s defense in nine games at shortstop was error-free. He also saw time at second base, where he had one miscue, but scouts report his defense is very good at the position, and that he could also handle third base if necessary.

Pratt’s current statistical profile looks a lot like that of Wade Boggs in the 1990s: a solid performer who hit for a .300 average and got on base to the tune of a 112+ OPS. In addition, the 1990s version of Boggs delivered very good defense (Boggs won a pair of Gold Gloves during that timeframe). Of course, the difference between an established Hall of Famer in the second half of their big-league career and a teenager just entering pro ball is the difference between a horse and a seahorse. Still, that is an excellent plausible outcome for a sixth-round pick--the same place where the Brewers have found Scott Karl, Bill Travers, Bill Hall, Randy Ready, and Drew Rasmussen (who was the key piece in the Willy Adames trade) over the years.

That said, Pratt could be much better. He’s been compared to Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson on both the Pipeline and Brewer Fanatic lists, and Henderson developed significant power after his time in Rookie ball. Obviously, the stats look different, but Henderson played in the Gulf Coast League, as opposed to the more hitter-friendly Arizona Complex League.

The real questions are whether Pratt can develop the power from a frame (6’4”, 195 pounds) that should deliver more in that department, and if he can adjust to professional pitching and reduce his strikeouts. If one happens, the Crew gets a solid player. If both happen, Pratt’s ceiling could be very high, indeed--no matter what position he plays.

Breakdown
In one sense, the Brewers are in a no-lose situation in this head-to-head competition. As it stands, if either player develops as well as fans hope, the Crew ends up with a very good shortstop.

Which of these prospects impresses you more? What kind of future do you envision for each?

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