Shortstop Cooper Pratt hit many high notes in his first full professional season.
Drafted in the sixth round last year out of high school in Mississippi, Pratt spent most of 2024 with Low-A Carolina, moving to High-A Wisconsin at the end of July.
He hit .277/.362/.406 with eight home runs and 27 stolen bases in 96 games.
Asked what stood out most to him about his overall performance, the 20-year-old did not hesitate.
“All of a sudden, I was hitting home runs,” Pratt said. “After I left Carolina, I had three. Then I got to Wisconsin and I hit five home runs in (23) games and was like, ‘Holy smokes. This is different.’
“That stood out the most for me. The ball was coming off the bat harder.”
While it was Pratt’s overall package of tools that convinced the Brewers to got more than $1 million over slot to sign him, they knew there was plenty of potential for growth in his 6-foot-4 frame.
And power, too. Though Pratt swears his late-season surge didn’t convince him to focus on swinging for the fences.
“Consistent contact,” is what Pratt said his goal is at the plate. “I’m never going to try to hit home runs. I’m going to try to hit it on the barrel, hit it hard somewhere. I don’t care where, as long as it finds some grass, it’s fine with me—and try to make a difference in the field.
“But if they go out, I’m not going to complain.”
The stretch run was especially fun for Pratt. He played a role in the Timber Rattlers advancing to the Midwest League championship series, then closed out the year with a promotion to Double-A Biloxi for the Southern League playoffs.
And wouldn’t you know? Pratt homered in one of the two games he played for the Shuckers, as well.
“It was a big jump to me,” Pratt said. “I was really happy with how the season went, but there’s still a lot left.”
MICRO BREWS
— Righthanders Craig Yoho and KC Hunt shared Milwaukee’s minor league pitcher of the year honors, with Yoho even getting himself onto the radar for a possible September callup from Triple-A Nashville.
Leaning on a devastating changeup, Yoho posted both an ERA and WHIP of 0.94 with 10 saves over 48 appearances between Wisconsin, Biloxi and Nashville. He also struck out 101 batters in 57.2 innings. Hunt went 8-3 with a 2.03 ERA and one save in 25 appearances (14 starts) while finishing second in the organization in strikeouts with 139 compared to 25 walks over 102 innings.
— Pratt…