Cooper Pratt Is An Above-Average MLB Hitter After Only Two Months

Image courtesy of IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Brewers Video

Cooper Pratt has had quite the year. The Milwaukee Brewers’ fourth-ranked prospect (per Brewer Fanatic) has inked a long-term extension, made his MLB debut, and now he’s quickly turning into the most dangerous type of hitter there is: someone who excels at everything. Let’s break down how Pratt is already adjusting to the big leagues in a way that could make him a key piece when postseason baseball rolls around.

Cooper Pratt’s Background

Pratt is a 21-year-old infielder for the Brewers, and he’s done nothing but impress since the team selected him in the sixth round of the 2023 MLB Draft. Pratt holds a hefty frame, standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 210 pounds despite profiling as a shortstop, a position that demands the fleet of foot.

The former sixth-round pick has overcome that, swiping 58 bases between the 2024 and 2025 minor league seasons. His glove (60) and fielding (60) have profiled as the infielder’s best tools, as he’s managed to work his way all the way up to a major league debut this season. This isn’t an easy feat considering the fierce competition from Jesus Made and Luis Pena, fellow infield prospects who are climbing the ladder with Pratt.

Pratt Locked Down

Matt Arnold has proven himself as someone who knows talent analysis, and he’s nailed the hires to build the best farm system in baseball. With that being said, when the Crew signs someone to an eight-year, $50.75 million contract, it’s for good reason. The budding shortstop is locked down until at least 2033 before a club option can kick in over the next couple of years.

This is similar to what the Brewers have done with Luis Lara, an outfielder who also debuted this year and inked a seven-year, $31 million deal taking him through 2032 ahead of a club option.

The Surface Level Numbers Are Promising

So far, Pratt has passed the eye test, and he’s come a long way from someone who slashed just .238/.343/.348 with the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers a season ago. One of Milwaukee’s greenest infielders is currently slashing .289/.371/.391 with a .762 OPS over 42 games with the group. Pratt has slugged two home runs, driven in 17 baserunners, and has 18 walks to 29 strikeouts with 10 stolen bases already.

Taking A Deeper Dive

Take a more granular look at Pratt’s early performance, and you’ll be even more impressed. The Magnolia Heights H.S. alum has a 137 wRC+ since the start of July, implying that he’s been a far better all-around hitter than the average major leaguer (with 100 being the mean value).

Like most players on the Brewers, he takes his walks, earning a free pass 12.2 percent of the time. That mark, along with his 19.6 percent strikeout rate, is both well above league average. Pratt has had success against fastballs, even getting a bit unlucky with a .258 batting average that’s eight points below his expected value.

The real difference has been his success against breaking balls, a pitch type that he’s gone 17-for-38 (.447 AVG) against with five extra-base hits, including a home run. Pratt, even at his young age, is already identifying which breaking balls aren’t worth offering at and which to attack.

What’s His Long-Term Role?

What will Pratt do long term, and can he keep this productivity up? Unlike batting average on balls in play, metrics like low chase rates, high walk rates, and a prominent indication that he can identify pitches well are all sustainable traits. This isn’t someone who is hitting into luck. In fact, he’s done all of this despite having a below-average bat speed of 70.3 miles per hour.

Pratt is still very young, and he could easily fill out more of his frame as the years go by. He may need to be flexible, though, as baseball’s top prospect in Made could be up in the big leagues as soon as this year. We’ve seen Pratt play around the infield, so it shouldn’t be much of an issue.

Wherever he plays on defense, this is someone who has the right habits at the plate and could be a difference-maker for years to come.