How Can the Brewers Use Their Newly Extended Prospects in 2026?

The Brewers have made some long-term plans in 2026, making it clear that shortstop Cooper Pratt and center fielder Luis Lara will be around for a long time via extensions that (if all options are exercised, and if they're not traded) will keep them both in Milwaukee until 2035.

So, while they could now be key components of the major-league team for nine-plus seasons each, could they be assets for the Brewers today? There are certainly some ways in which they could, with each of them filling holes and allowing the team to make major improvements.

What Luis Lara Can Do For Milwaukee In 2026
First, let’s look at the most recent extendee. Before this season, Luis Lara looked like a more pesky version of Blake Perkins, who was a 2024 Gold Glove finalist and who was not horrible at the plate. Lara had on-base skills from the get-go, and he was also a threat on the basepaths. Something did seem to shift for Lara in 2025, when his doubles total shot up to 32 over a full season. (His previous career high had been 23 the previous year, split between Advanced-A Wisconsin and Peoria in the Arizona Fall League.) Lara also drew a lot more walks in 2025: 89, compared to a previous high of 53. In the wake of the news of his new deal, our Jake McKibbin wrote a great piece detailing those improvements in swing decisions and the uptick in power, in terms of what they do for his long-term outlook.

What could Lara do for Milwaukee in 2026? Defensively, he could take over center field and be a defensive improvement over Garrett Mitchell. In the short term, that would probably sacrifice some offense, but the team could also consider moving Mitchell to right field and further reducing Sal Frelick's playing time—or optioning him to the minors for an offensive reset.

Offensively, his biggest contribution could be to take over the leadoff slot, currently split between Christian Yelich and Jackson Chourio. Not that the Brewers are doing poorly, but Yelich and Chourio are (arguably) better used as big boppers in the lineup, and Lara could simply get on base to come around when one or both of those players comes up with an extra-base hit.

In all likelihood, he's not ready to translate his minor-league on-base skills to the majors so well as to merit that top spot in the order. But if he can deliver elite outfield defense and even act as a second leadoff man at the bottom of the lineup card, he has value for this team as they look toward October.

What Cooper Pratt Can Do For Milwaukee In 2026
Joey Ortiz is one of the Brewers whose continued presence in the starting lineup has been understandable, yet baffling. Ortiz is an incredible defender; nobody disputes that. The problem is that his offense makes people yearn for the likes of Yuniesky Betancourt and Orlando Arcia.

Pratt received his $50 million extension at the end of March. Like Lara, Pratt’s been an exceptional defender, picking up a Minor League Gold Glove. Pratt, though, is a pure hitter in many aspects: he doesn’t strike out much, he can draw walks, he can steal a lot of bases, and he’ll even take a free base by getting plunked occasionally.

At that performance level, Pratt’s a good investment at shortstop, especially since some reports indicate he is also a very positive presence in the clubhouse. The tantalizing part is that there may be power in his 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame. That part is likely to take more time to unlock. But even at his current level, Pratt has a chance to be a viable lineup extender with the speed to make some good things happen. (Despite being so big, he's stolen 79 bases and been caught just nine times in his pro career.) He could allow David Hamilton and Luis Rengifo to split time at third base, and the Brewers to get the upgrade they desperately need at shortstop.

Lara and Pratt now have clearer spots in the future of the Milwaukee Brewers, but that future could start a lot sooner than some people think. They have to show the team their offensive processes are good enough to justify them supplanting Frelick and/or Ortiz before their turns will come, but their exceptional defense and athleticism make that a real possibility.