Spencer Michaelis

When I was watching the MiLB TV stream, this happened during a commercial break, so I'm glad there was actual video still!

I have a hard time worrying about anybody in a couple start sample. In MLB and MiLB I think it’s valuable to try to judge early season performances as if they happened in June or July. If a rough two start sample happened mid-season it would just be a case of hoping they’ll be better next time out. That’s how I’ll be viewing these slow starts until the sample gets more meaningful.

Signed free agent RHP Reiss Knehr to a minor league contract

Well, I can absolutely assure you that is not the case, haha. I always use Grammarly to clean up some of the grammar before submitting my articles, and I have noticed that it can sound a bit less personal when I do that, but I would never use *anything* else to write an article. Now, I did try using the headers as a means of breaking it down in a different way than I normally do. Perhaps that’s not a great way for me to do it moving forward, if it reads like that.

Another first time full season player (and a player who had some fans in the Arizona scouting community), Frederi Montero looks like he’ll be with the Warbirds

NDFA pitchers Jarrette Bonet and Tanner Perry will both be with the Warbirds to start the season. As will catcher Luis Corobo.

Image courtesy of © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images It’s not often a player signs an eight-year deal (plus two club options), worth $50 million guaranteed, after just three games in Triple-A. It’s even more rare when that player was a sixth-round pick out of high school less than three years ago. But the Brewers aren’t betting on what Cooper Pratt has already done. They’re betting on what he’s going to do. A Foundation Built on Instincts To understand this move, start with some of the traits that don't show up on Pratt's FanGraphs page: his instincts, leadership qualities, and baseball IQ. Pratt is one of the most instinctive players in the organization, and that shows up everywhere. He doesn’t need top-of-the-scale tools to impact the game because his internal clock, positioning, and decision-making consistently put him in the right place on both sides of the ball. Defensively, that translates into a player who already looks like a long-term shortstop. The range plays above the raw speed, thanks to strong first steps and advanced reads off the bat. On the bases, it’s the same story. He went 31-for-36 on stolen bases in 2025, not because he’s a burner, but because he understands timing, pitchers, and situations. Those kinds of instincts are scalable to higher levels. On the leadership side of things, according to Adam McCalvy, “(Pratt) spent the spring trying to learn Spanish to better communicate with Latin American teammates.” That’s the type of person and personality the Brewers are drawn to, and really appreciate in their clubhouse. When teams hand out early extensions, they’re often paying for traits they believe will age well. Instincts, defensive value, and baseball IQ are at the top of that list, and just so happen to be the greatest strengths of Pratt. This is a profile Milwaukee has come to trust, develop, and ultimately build a large part of their team around. Bat-to-Ball Ability Offensively, Pratt’s profile is not built on loud power. It’s built mainly on his bat-to-ball skills. In Double-A in 2025, he posted a 108 wRC+ in the Southern League, while spending most of the season as a 20-year-old. That matters. The raw .691 OPS doesn’t jump off the page, but the added context of the Southern League’s hitting environment clarifies the picture. He was producing above league average in one of the tougher hitting environments in the minors, against older competition. Pratt struck out just 15.2 percent of the time, while walking at a 12.7% clip. That combination points to a hitter who controls at-bats, puts the ball in play, and doesn’t give away plate appearances. His 22.3% whiff rate reinforces that this is real bat-to-ball ability. The Brewers have had a lot of success leaning into this archetype before, with hitters who can make consistent contact, manage the zone well enough, and let the rest of their game add value. There’s also a level of consistency in his swing that evaluators trust. It’s controlled, repeatable, and adaptable across pitch types. That gives him a high floor offensively, even as other parts of the profile continue to develop. Defensive Value at a Premium Position Shortstop defense still carries weight, and Pratt checks a lot of boxes. He projects as an above-average defender at the position, with a chance to be even better. For an organization that prioritizes run prevention, that matters. The arm is a separator, too. Pratt can make throws from multiple angles with accuracy, giving him a toolset teams trust on the left side of the infield. If Pratt can provide steady offense and plus defensive value at shortstop, that’s an everyday player. If the bat takes another step, it’s more than that. Milwaukee has shown a willingness to invest early in up-the-middle players they believe in. Pratt fits that philosophy almost perfectly. The Big Questions: Impact and Approach For all the strengths in the profile, the biggest X-factor remains Pratt’s power (or lack thereof). Pratt’s 101.2-MPH 90th-percentile exit velocity points to below-average game power right now. He hit eight home runs in 527 plate appearances in 2025, and much of his offensive value came from contact and on-base ability, rather than damage. However, that’s where some physical projection comes in. There’s room on Pratt's frame to add strength, and more importantly, there’s a path to impact through bat speed gains. If he can add even fringe-average power, the entire profile changes. Suddenly, you’re looking at a shortstop who gets on base, puts the ball in play, runs well, and does enough damage to matter. The approach is another piece of that puzzle. Pratt’s chase tendencies, particularly against breaking balls away, can undercut his strong contact skills. Improving swing decisions would allow him to tap into more favorable counts and better pitches to drive. Those are developmental areas for Pratt, not huge red flags, at least at this moment. And clearly, the Brewers believe in their ability to help him make the needed adjustments. Why the Brewers Moved Now Of course, this extension isn’t about anything the Brewers' brass saw in three games in Triple-A. It’s about taking a calculated risk on a player they view as a long-term major-league contributor. Pratt offers a relatively high floor built on contact, defense, high baseball IQ, and instincts. He brings a high likelihood of high-level defense at a premium defensive position. He also still has youth on his side, which means physical development can still be part of the equation. Finally, he has clear and attainable paths to achieving some of the offensive growth that the team will be looking for. If the power comes, the deal looks like a bargain for Milwaukee. If it doesn’t fully arrive, there’s still a realistic outcome where Pratt is an everyday shortstop who contributes in multiple ways, and this deal is more than reasonable for an everyday infielder in the prime of his career. What Comes Next Pratt will continue to face upper-level pitching in Triple-A, where he will look to translate the same underlying skills against better arms, and hopefully start to tap into some of the power. This could expedite his promotion to MLB a bit, but it doesn't seem like that's the main impetus for the deal—as it often is, with extensions like these. Still, if the contact quality ticks up and the approach tightens, he could push his way into Milwaukee sooner, rather than later. The defensive value gives him a path to the majors even without major offensive gains, but the ceiling will be determined by how much impact the bat develops. The Brewers didn’t wait for an answer on the bat. They decided they already had enough to go off of to make Cooper Pratt a core member of the big-league team for the next 8-10 years. What do you think of the Cooper Pratt extension? Let us know! View full article

For those looking for some video from the MiLB games, definitely check out ProspectsAZ on Instagram. A ton of video of Brewers prospects on there. Like this Alexander Frias triple for example: MiLB clips by Paul (@prospectsaz) • Instagram reel WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM 64 likes, 0 comments - prospectsaz on March 19, 2026: "Alexander Frias turned on the jets for a triple today 🏃‍♂️ The Brewers outfield prospect played is now stateside at the...

Rule 5 timeline starts from when they're drafted/signed. That's why Cole Phillips was able to be selected by the Brewers in the MiLB Rule 5 despite having never pitched in a pro game to this point.

I believe catcher Isais Chavez is also stateside right now. Not sure on anyone else.

Image courtesy of © Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images #2 Luis Peña (Carolina Mudcats, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers) Peña has quickly developed into one of the more interesting young position players in the system, and if not for Jesús Made, he would likely be the talk of minor-league camp as it opens this week. PA H 2B 3B HR OPS wRC+ wOBA K% BB% SwStr% Whiff% PULL% CENT% OPPO% LD% GB% FB% IFFB% SB CS SB% 90th EV 418 101 18 6 9 .757 113 .363 16.3% 8.1% 11.3% 24.0% 45.7% 25.1% 29.3% 20.9% 44.4% 34.6% 23.6% 44 7 86% 104.2 What to Like While Peña didn't receive the same level of attention as Made during their 2024 DSL debuts, his production at that level was equally strong. He sustained that momentum into 2025, even outperforming Made at Low-A before facing challenges after a promotion to High-A. The overall performance showed both his upside and the typical growing pains of a very young player facing more advanced competition. One of the biggest developments in Peña’s profile has been his power. Over the course of one offseason, he made a significant jump in his contact quality, improving his 90th-percentile exit velocity from under 100 MPH in the DSL to 104.2 MPH at two levels in 2025. That jump in impact elevated his offensive ceiling and added another dimension to his game. The improved strength showed up in his production, as he hit nine home runs and six triples during the 2025 season. Speed is another defining part of Peña’s profile. He possesses plus or better speed, and his application of it impacts the game in multiple ways. His quickness allows him to create pressure on defenses and provide a lot of value on the bases. He stole 44 bases in 2025 and has the aggressiveness and pure speed to be a big threat in that regard. The combination of emerging power and high-end speed gives him an exciting offensive foundation. Despite being one of the youngest players at his levels, Peña showed the ability to produce against older competition for much of the season. His offensive tools give him a high ceiling as he continues to develop physically and refine his approach. What to Work On The biggest area for improvement in Peña’s offensive profile is his approach at the plate. After his promotion to High-A, he began to show more swing-and-miss and struggled to maintain the same level of contact he showed earlier in the season. He currently chases pitches outside the zone more often than you’d like to see, and improving his pitch recognition and plate discipline will be important as he moves up the ladder. Elevating his hard-hit contact more often would also help his burgeoning power to really flourish. Defensively, there are significant questions about his long-term position. His work on the infield has been inconsistent, with actions that can appear rigid and hands that don't yet bring the ball in as surely as they'll need to. His defensive instincts and overall comfort on the dirt remain areas of concern. Shortstop looks unlikely, and continued development will be necessary for him to remain an infielder at any spot. His athleticism and arm strength provide enough tools to continue developing on the dirt in the short term, but a move to the outfield remains a realistic possibility. A transition to the outfield could allow his speed and athletic ability to play more naturally and maximize his defensive value; it would also accelerate his progress toward the majors. As with many young players, overall consistency will be key. Refining his approach, improving defensive reliability, and adjusting to higher-level pitching will determine how quickly he progresses. What’s Next Peña is expected to return to High-A in 2026. The organization will likely continue evaluating him on the infield, while also considering long-term positional fit based on his development. His combination of speed and emerging power gives him a high offensive ceiling, and the athleticism could allow the defense to bloom late. Showing improvement in the areas that he struggled with in 2025 could position him for a move to Double-A later in the season. What are your thoughts on Peña’? What are you hoping to see from him in 2026? Let us know in the comments! View full article