MILWAUKEE -- As Brewers manager Pat Murphy held court ahead of Sunday’s series finale against the Twins at American Family Field, he revealed rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt was undergoing an MRI on his right hamstring.
The development was a bit of a surprise, as Pratt played all nine innings the previous night and, per Murphy, insisted he still felt good enough to play Sunday.
Despite that, it turns out the decision to get another look at the hamstring ended up being the right call. Milwaukee announced shortly before first pitch that Pratt was being placed on the 10-day injured list after being diagnosed with a right hamstring strain. The club signed utility player Jihwan Bae to a Minor League contract, selecting him to the active roster as the corresponding move.
It’s certainly a setback for Pratt, who had been taking significant strides at the plate since making his big league debut on June 16. He opened his MLB career by going 7-for-19 over his first six games before hitting a bit of a funk. But Pratt has slashed .325/.374/.475 since July 7, a 25-game stretch that included his first career homer on July 20 against the Mets.
Bae arrives in Milwaukee after spending four years with the Pirates. He’s slashed .223/.294/.293 over 163 big league games. Bae was claimed off waivers by the Mets on Nov. 6 and has spent this season with Triple-A Syracuse, where he has hit .257 in 91 games before being released on Aug. 4.