As Brewers fans eagerly anticipate the 2026 regular season, Sunday’s Spring Training game against the San Francisco Giants was a reminder of the unpredictability of baseball. The Brewers fell 7-1, narrowly avoiding a Spring Training perfect game, which would have been a rare and embarrassing chapter in Cactus League history.
Robbie Ray, the 2021 American League Cy Young Award winner, was on fire for the Giants. Slated as their No. 2 starter behind Logan Webb, Ray dazzled with five perfect innings, striking out eight, including the in-form Jake Bauers twice. His performance set the tone for the Giants’ pitching staff.
Carson Seymour, Triston Beck, and Matt Gage picked up where Ray left off, maintaining the perfect game through eight innings. Garrett Mitchell came close to breaking it with a blistering 110 mph line drive, but center fielder Jared Oliva, fresh from a stint with the Nashville Sounds, made a crucial catch.
As the game entered the ninth with the Giants leading 7-0, Gregory Santos, a hard-throwing reliever signed in December, took the mound. The Brewers faced the prospect of a Spring Training perfect game, but two top prospects had other ideas.
Cooper Pratt, Milwaukee’s No. 4-ranked prospect, showed patience at the plate. Santos struggled with his command, and Pratt drew a walk on five pitches, breaking the perfect game.
With the pressure now on, Blake Burke, the Brewers’ No. 18 prospect, stepped up. Burke smashed a 107 mph grounder past first baseman Jake Holton, driving in Pratt and securing an RBI double that shattered the no-hitter and shutout.
Burke’s hot streak from the end of the 2025 season with the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers has carried into Spring Training, where he’s making the most of his opportunities. With just six Cactus League at-bats, he’s already making his presence felt.
Despite the loss, Pratt and Burke’s performances were a silver lining for Milwaukee. Both are poised to play significant roles for the Brewers in the future, with Pratt likely starting the season as the Triple-A shortstop and Burke eyeing the starting first base position in Double-A. Their clutch contributions offered a glimpse of what’s to come, turning a tough day into a testament to the team’s promising future.