PITTSBURGH -- Cooper Pratt’s first Brewers clinch celebration came with a view of the team hotel instead of the clubhouse party.
The rookie shortstop was too sick to be around Tuesday night, missing Milwaukee’s champagne celebration after the club wrapped up the National League Central. Pratt had spent the day isolated at the hotel across the Allegheny River, feeling so bad that even getting through the day was a grind.
“Obviously, I was happy for the guys and it was great to see them all celebrate,” Pratt said Wednesday, when he was back in the starting lineup against the Pirates at PNC Park. “But it was a rough day at the hotel.”
Pratt said the symptoms started on the off-day Monday, when the Brewers arrived late in Pittsburgh. By Tuesday, the team was concerned enough about the possibility he was contagious that he was told to stay back and rest. He said he followed the instructions without issue because he was barely able to do much else.
“I didn’t really sleep the night before,” he said. “I felt absolutely terrible all day. I’m pretty sure that’s the first time in my life I’ve missed a game because I was sick.”
With no television option available, Pratt tracked the Brewers’ 5-1 win over the Pirates through the Gameday Audio broadcast, listening to Lane Grindle and Josh Maurer. He then stayed tuned for the final innings of Braves-Cubs, waiting to find out whether Milwaukee would clinch. Once the Cubs lost, the celebration was on - just without him.
“He called and wanted to come in to the celebration,” manager Pat Murphy said. “We said, no.”
Second baseman Brice Turang said the team understood why Pratt was absent, even if it wasn’t ideal to have him missing such a moment.
“It’s too bad he missed the first one in his career, but sometimes you have to do what’s best for yourself and look out for the team,” Turang said. “We all wish he was here.
There was definitely some conversation about him not being here, but we all know what it’s like when you’re down bad and you don’t want to bring it into the clubhouse. We’re going to need him in the long run.
If that day [away] is what it takes, then so be it.”
The Brewers still made sure Pratt had something to remember the night by. He got the Division Champs T-shirt the players wore during the celebration, and because he doesn’t drink alcohol, the team also set aside a bottle of sparkling cider for him.
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