Brewers insider throws cold water top prospect making team out of spring training

Spring camp is well underway for all MLB teams and the young Milwaukee Brewers roster is hoping to win a third straight NL Central title. 2024 saw rookie sensation Jackson Chourio appear on the Opening Day roster giving a boost to all Crew fans. This year, however, it looks like top prospect Cooper Pratt will have to stay patient before him making the big league roster.

Pratt impressed in 2024, starting with the Single-A Carolina Mudcasts before being promoted to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in A+ ball. Across the year he hit .295/.394/.406 with a .768 OPS, registering eight home runs and 45 RBIs. The shortstop represented the Brewers in the MLB All-Star Futures Game last July, also picking up the MiLB Rawlings Gold Glove Award for his defense at short.

Still just 20-years old, Pratt has a lot of room to improve and for now it sounds like he won't be following in Chourio's footsteps just yet, but with Willy Adames' departure, there may be opportunity for him later in the year.

Will Cooper Pratt make the Brewers' Opening Day roster?

Brewers insider Adam McCalvy cooled down the potential of Pratt making the team which would allow him to continue developing in the minor leagues before being called up. Manager Pat Murphy spoke on the 57th overall prospect in the country and said, "He’s really impressed me in terms of who he is, that’s most important for me. Watching him take ground balls with the others and watching him be himself, he’s undaunted by who’s around him.”

One key difference between Chourio and Pratt is that the former played across all levels of the minor league system and excelled at all of them, something Pratt has yet to do. The shortstop will be hoping to begin the season at Biloxi and then aim towards Triple-A Nashville.

Brice Turang and Joey Ortiz look to be the likely candidates to share the shortstop responsibilities for the Brewers come Opening Day with depth being filled around them at second and third. Pratt won't be without competition in the minors with the electric Jesus Made flying up prospect rankings and also playing across the infield.

When speaking on his time with the Brewers in training camp, Pratt said, "The big league club has a bunch of guys that can fill that role pretty easily. I know there’s time to develop in the Minor Leagues and when the opportunity comes, if it comes, it will be there. It’s not something that’s going to affect the way I play.”

Chourio is an anomaly to the rule of when players enter the majors at such a young age and so it is important with the likes of Pratt and Made that the Brewers don't get carried away and try to force them to develop too quickly. He has shown his defensive capabilities already and the power with the bat will come over time, that will come with time and in the coming seasons Pratt will be a key piece of the Brewers young core.

Pratt finished by talking about the plan moving forward and how much he has enjoyed his time in camp: “I’m going to plan on going through the minor leagues just like everyone else and when my time comes, my time comes."

“It’s pretty special to be here and pretty special to get to work out with some of these guys and see them up close after seeing them on TV. I’m super excited to be here. Just to be in the environment and show what I can do. If you would have asked me last year if I would be in this situation this year, I probably would have just laughed.”

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