Brewers seeing strong early returns from two major in-season contract extensions

Nearly three months into Cooper Pratt’s big-league career, which began on June 17, and roughly two and a half months into Luis Lara’s, which started a few weeks later on July 7, the early returns on the Milwaukee Brewers’ long-term investments are looking promising. Before making their MLB debuts, Pratt signed an eight-year, $50.75 million extension, while Lara agreed to a seven-year, $31 million deal.

Despite concerns about Pratt’s bat not being fully developed and questions about whether Lara could sustain the offensive production that helped him earn his payday, so far, both young players are giving the Brewers plenty of reason to believe those commitments could pay off in a big way. Together, Pratt (1.3 bWAR) and Lara (1.2 bWAR) have already produced a combined 2.5 Wins Above Replacement in their brief time in the major leagues. That puts each of them on pace to be a 3.0+ bWAR player over the course of a full season.

Beyond the numbers, both rookies have passed the eye test, showing encouraging ability at the plate while more than holding their own defensively. Pratt, for example, put together a six-game RBI streak in August, coming within one game of the Brewers’ rookie record of seven held by Ryan Braun. Lara, meanwhile, has already made his mark on the big stage against the Chicago Cubs, making a game-changing ninth-inning catch in one game before delivering a walk-off hit in the next victory.

Early big-league success from Cooper Pratt and Luis Lara further proves why the Brewers' front office is among the best

Despite the Brewers’ track record of getting immediate production from their rookies, including Sal Frelick in 2023, Jackson Chourio in 2024, Caleb Durbin and Isaac Collins in 2025, and now Pratt and Lara this season, production from young players is anything but a certainty.

Take Seattle Mariners shortstop Colt Emerson, who signed an eight-year, $95 million extension in March, for example. Before being sidelined indefinitely this season with a wrist injury, Emerson struggled to find his footing, posting -0.1 fWAR, a 67 wRC+, and an alarming 34% strikeout rate.

A similar situation unfolded last year in Baltimore, when the Baltimore Orioles signed catcher Samuel Basallo to an eight-year, $67 million deal. During his inaugural campaign, Basallo produced just -0.2 fWAR and a 56 wRC+. Basallo has bounced back nicely this year, but the difference in his debut season production compared to Pratt and Lara's is a testament to the Brewers' ability to always seemingly call up their prospects at the exact right moment.

While those are just two examples of players who struggled to produce immediately after signing big extensions, there are also plenty of young players who have thrived right away, including three this year. Kevin McGonigle, Konnor Griffin, and J.J. Wetherholt have all made strong early impressions, with McGonigle currently emerging as the frontrunner for American League Rookie of the Year.

However, few organizations have been able to consistently get immediate production from their young players at the rate the Brewers have in recent years. That speaks volumes about Milwaukee’s player-development system and its ability to prepare prospects to step into the majors and contribute right away.

A tip of the hat also goes to President of Baseball Operations Matt Arnold, who has tripled down over the past three years on signing players to significant contract extensions before they even make their MLB debuts, and then watched them succeed almost immediately. It's undoubtedly a risk, signing a player to a long-term deal before they even debut, but it's clear Chourio, Pratt, and Lara still possess even higher upside than the impressive production they've shown thus far.

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