Cooper Pratt collects four "MLB firsts" in Brewers' series-clinching win over Guardians

Milwaukee Brewers' shortstop Cooper Pratt made his MLB debut on Tuesday night in the team's series opener against the Cleveland Guardians. However, Pratt's performance in his first major league game fell under the category of "get the first one out of the way" rather than landing on the shortlist of best debuts in franchise history. On Tuesday night, Pratt was 0-for-3 with three groundouts at the plate and committed an error in the field. However, in his second major league game, on Wednesday night, Pratt put together a far more memorable performance, one that checked off several major league "firsts" for the 21-year-old shortstop.

Just as he did in his debut in Tuesday night's series opener, Pratt batted eighth in last night's game against the Guardians. After the Brewers plated three runs in the first inning, the young shortstop was first to bat in the second frame. Facing Gavin Williams, who trails only Aaron Ashby when it comes to pitching wins this season, Pratt got ahead 2-0 in the count after watching two sinkers sail above the strikezone. Williams then evened the count with two better-located sinkers at the top of the zone. However, when the Guardians' starter threw a fifth-straight sinker, once again in the upper half of the strikezone, Pratt didn't miss it, and instead sent a ground ball through the right side for his first major league hit.

Pratt advanced to second base after the Brewers' nine-hole hitter, David Hamilton, laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt during the subsequent at-bat. Leadoff hitter Christian Yelich, who made his Brewers debut five years before the organization drafted Pratt, lined a single over the head of Cleveland's shortstop Brayan Rocchio. Pratt, known for his excellent instincts on the base paths, got a perfect jump on the ball off of Yelich's bat and scored with ease from second base, giving the Milwaukee's new shortstop his first major league run scored.

A base hit and a run scored would have been a great night for Pratt, who is being tasked with improving on the lackluster offensive production of Joey Ortiz and Luis Rengifo. However, Pratt wasn't done yet. In fact, he wasn't done checking off "MLB firsts" in the Brewers' series-clinching win over the Guardians, who are now tied for first place in the AL Central with, you better believe it, the Chicago White Sox.

Cooper Pratt collects first MLB hit, run scored, RBI, and stolen base in Brewers' win over Guardians on Tuesday night

Pratt returned to the plate in the fourth inning for his second at-bat of the contest. After throwing nothing but fastballs in Pratt's first at-bat of the game, Williams only showed the Brewers' rookie shortstop off-speed pitches in his second trip to the plate. A sweeper on the outer-half of the zone got Pratt swinging for his first strikeout in MLB -- a far less exciting "major league first" for the young infielder.

In the bottom of the sixth, Pratt struck out again -- this time on a 100.3 mph fastball out of the hand of Guardians flame-thrower Daniel Espino. However, two innings later, Pratt returned to the plate for his fourth at-bat of the night, and this time in a run-producing situation. After an RBI-double off the bat of Andrew Vaughn, Pratt stepped up to the plate with one out and runners on second and third. Pratt fell behind 0-2 in the count, but fought off several tough pitches and on the seventh offering of the at-bat from left-hander Will Dion, the Brewers' shortstop dumped a single into right field that scored Sal Frelick from third base. Pratt earned his first major league RBI and extended the Brewers' lead to 9-4, where it would remain through the end of the game.

Then, after pinch hitter Gary Sánchez lined out to center field, Pratt swiped second base without a throw, giving the rookie shortstop his first stolen base of his young MLB career. Though Pratt is destined for a long, and hopefully successful career, during which these early milestones will inevitably come to be forgotten, getting his first hit, run scored, RBI, and stolen base all "out of the way" in his second-ever MLB game should help ease some of the pressure that the young infielder undoubtedly feels.

A quick start to Pratt's career, while it was by no means necessary, given the offensive production he's being asked to replace, is nevertheless a welcomed development for the 21-year-old, who had already won over the favor of the Milwaukee faithful before he debuted. A strong showing in his second major league game only grows the excitement that Brewers fans feel regarding Pratt taking over as Milwaukee's everyday shortstop.

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