MILWAUKEE -- The Cooper Pratt era has begun at American Family Field.
The Brewers formally promoted their No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline (No. 63 overall) to the Majors on Tuesday, and Pratt, 21, will bat eighth as the starting shortstop for the team’s series opener against the Guardians.
To clear space on both the 40-man and active rosters, the Brewers designated infielder Luis Rengifo for assignment, cutting ties with a switch-hitting veteran who signed a one-year, $3.5 million free-agent contract at the start of Spring Training, but didn’t pan out. Rengifo departed with a .534 OPS in 185 at-bats.
Pratt is expected to take over as the regular shortstop, pushing Joey Ortiz to a third-base timeshare with David Hamilton.
At 21 years, 302 days old on Tuesday, Pratt would be the third-youngest player to start a Major League game at shortstop this season behind the Pirates’ Konnor Griffin, the Mariners’ Colt Emerson and the Tigers’ Kevin McGonigle.
It’s only the latest show of confidence in Pratt, who slipped to the sixth round of the 2023 Draft because of signability concerns but got an above-slot bonus, then got an eight-year contract in April that guarantees $50.75 million and could pay much more with three club options.
He was hitting .241/.349/.386 with six home runs and 17 stolen bases in 58 games with Triple-A Nashville before learning that he’d been promoted during the sixth inning of Sunday’s game against Durham.