Cooper Pratt Signed a Monster Deal and Now He Can Actually Breathe

Here's the thing about being a 21-year-old prospect trying to make it to the majors: the pressure can eat you alive. But Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt just signed an eight-year contract through 2033 with club options for 2034 and 2035, and he's making it clear that this deal changes everything mentally. Worth $50.75 million according to multiple reports, the contract is supposed to do something counterintuitive. It's supposed to free him up.

"There's pressure, but it's different. It's fun pressure," Pratt said in a Zoom call with reporters on Saturday, one day after the Brewers announced the signing. "It's just that thought in the back of your head disappears."

The Mental Game Shift

Pratt is opening this season with Nashville, the Brewers' Triple-A affiliate. He could have held out for free agency, chased the biggest payday, played it safe. Instead, he chose security. "I'll never have to worry about anything like that, pretty much the rest of my life," he said. "I can just play, play the game how it's supposed to be played without thinking about it as much, and also be able to take care of my family for generations."

His agent, Scott Boras, backed that logic. "I felt after listening to him and his family that this was a deal that would allow him to be his best," Boras said. Boras also noted the delayed free agency angle, saying that if they maximize Pratt's performance under this deal, "the risk on the back side of this will allow us optimization in the next contract."

The Tools Are There

A 2023 sixth-round draft pick, Pratt entered the season as the No. 70 prospect according to ESPN. The defensive foundation is rock solid: he won a Gold Glove as the top shortstop in the minor leagues in 2024. Last season with Double-A Biloxi, he batted .238 with a .343 on-base percentage, added eight homers, 62 RBIs, 31 steals and 67 walks in 120 games. The bat is still developing.

But Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold sees the upside. "We believe in the bat. We believe in the glove, certainly. This guy is really toolsy too. He's very athletic. He's a big, physical kid, so we think there's a chance to grow into some power. And he can really run."

Watch this kid's climb to the majors. The pressure is off in the best way possible.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.