The Brewers are going to be without Cooper Pratt a little longer than they’d like, but the latest word at least gives them a rough runway for his return.
According to Curt Hogg of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Pratt is expected back in late August after landing on the 10-day injured list on the ninth of August with a strained right hamstring. Manager Pat Murphy said the rookie shortstop is making “solid progress” in his rehab, though soft tissue injuries always come with extra caution - especially for a 21-year-old Milwaukee plans to ease back in carefully.
That leaves the Brewers to keep piecing together the shortstop spot in the meantime. David Hamilton has made two starts there since Pratt went down, and on Tuesday Milwaukee took a different route by sliding star second baseman Brice Turang over to short. The club has enough defensive flexibility to cover the position in the short term, but Pratt had made that a spot they didn’t have to think about much at all.
In his first 44 big league games, Pratt has posted a .720 OPS while providing above-average defense and baserunning at one of the toughest jobs on the diamond. Milwaukee believed in him early, signing him to an eight-year, $50.75 million extension before he even debuted in the majors.
For a sixth-round pick in 2023, that’s a rapid climb. Three years later, Pratt is already in the big leagues and making his presence felt in the middle of a pennant race.
In Other News...
Brewers Catching Future Suddenly Feels Far Less Secure
The Brewers have never been shy about moving on from a star before a long-term deal becomes too expensive, and that old habit is suddenly part of the conversation again behind the plate. Their catching situation looked stable with William Contreras, a three-time All-Star who delivered strong offense and defense in 2024, but the broader roster picture has made his future feel a lot less settled than it did even a few months ago.
Contract expectations are now looming over the discussion, and Milwaukee may not be eager to meet the price required to keep him in place for the long haul. The recent addition of Bo Naylor has only added to the sense that the Brewers are at least preparing for life beyond their current starter, which leaves one of the clubs most important positions looking more fragile than anyone expected. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Just Took Another Bullpen Hit During A Brutal Roster Shuffle
The Brewers kept reshaping their roster this week, and the latest round of moves hit both the pitching staff and the depth chart. Milwaukee designated right-hander Bryse Wilson for assignment, and after clearing waivers he elected free agency, another reminder of how quickly bullpen roles can change when a team is juggling injuries and short-term needs. To cover for injured shortstop Cooper Pratt on the active roster, the Brewers brought in Ji Hwan Bae and opened a spot by designating left-hander Drew Rom for assignment.
Roms exit is the part that stings a little more from a depth standpoint because he had been working in relief after moving out of a starters role at Triple-A Nashville. The Brewers had seen him as a potential arm worth keeping in the mix, but the roster squeeze left no easy answers, and now they have to keep sorting through the fallout while trying to maintain some stability on the pitching side. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Bring Bryse Wilson Back As Another Bullpen Arm Pays The Price
The Brewers kept their bullpen shuffle moving by bringing back right-hander Bryse Wilson on a major league contract after he elected free agency. Wilson had just been in the organizations recent mix, and Milwaukee remains in the familiar position of having to balance immediate pitching needs against the limited flexibility that comes with a crowded roster.
To get the move done, the Brewers had to clear space on both the active and 40-man rosters, and the latest transaction leaves Lyon Richardson in a precarious spot. Both pitchers are out of options, which means the waiver process could determine whether either one stays in the organization or is able to test free agency again. [Read more 🡒]