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First came the callups. Then came the hits. Now comes the handshake.
Luis Lara and Cooper Pratt have spent the past few games batting back-to-back near the bottom of the Brewers’ lineup, wreaking havoc together and celebrating like two 21-year-olds who have been waiting for this opportunity.
Because they have.
Less than two months ago, Lara (No. 4 Brewers prospect) and Pratt (No. 3) were teammates at Triple-A Nashville. Before that, they climbed through the Brewers’ system together. Now, after combining for nine hits, 10 RBIs and five runs scored in consecutive wins over the Rockies on Saturday and Sunday, they appear intent on taking their next step side by side, too.
“He’s become one of my best friends in pro ball,” Pratt said. “He plays the game hard, he plays the game the right way, and it’s contagious.”
Their friendship dates to High-A Wisconsin, where Pratt began trying to learn Spanish and Lara worked on his English. They connected through a shared passion that required little translation.
COMPLETE BREWERS PROSPECT COVERAGE
Rick Sweet saw it immediately when he managed both players at Nashville earlier this season.
“The biggest thing I noticed from Day 1 is the passion they have for the game,” Sweet said. “They love playing the game of baseball, and that’s not always true. These guys showed up to the ballpark every day with a smile on their face and a passion to play the game and play well.”
Their timelines have remained remarkably intertwined.
Pratt signed an eight-year extension in April. Lara followed with a seven-year deal in June, but only after Pratt sought him out and offered guidance on navigating the life-changing decision. Both were added to Milwaukee’s 40-man roster and optioned back to Nashville. Both experienced brief downturns after signing. Neither allowed the money or expectations to alter his demeanor.
“Nothing changed, and that’s the biggest thing,” Sweet said. “One thing about these two guys is they’re very well-liked and respected by their teammates. Whether their teammates are 30 years old or 20 years old, they are well-liked and well-respected.”
Pratt arrived in Milwaukee first, earning his promotion June 16. Lara followed July 7.
Sweet believes having a familiar face alongside them has helped ease a transition that comes with pressures far beyond facing Major League pitching.
“When you get to the big leagues, there’s so much pressure from the outside, from the fans, from the press, going to the big cities,” Sweet said. “To have that familiar face to go to and talk to and say, ‘Hey, remember when we were in Appleton?’ It helps. It’s almost a relief.”
That comfort is beginning to show -- and so is their personality.
On Friday, Lara and Pratt decided their growing partnership needed an official handshake. They came up with a basketball-themed celebration: a couple of high-fives, a fake Eurostep and, finally, a stepback jumper.
Pratt didn’t have to wait long to unveil it.
He entered Saturday having already started to settle in, but his three hits and three RBIs represented another leap forward. Lara enjoyed the best game of his young career alongside him, reaching base three times and driving in three runs.
When Pratt launched a 409-foot homer in the second inning, Lara was waiting for him in the dugout. Less than 24 hours after designing their handshake, the two put it into action for the first time.
“It was fitting,” Pratt said, “that we got to use it the next day.”
Then they went back to producing together Sunday. Lara collected two doubles, drove in two runs and scored another. Pratt added two hits, a double and two RBIs of his own.
“I think one sees the other handling it, and that helps each other,” manager Pat Murphy said. “They both play defense. They both baserun, and offensively, it’ll be a work in progress.”
The early returns aren’t bad.
Through his first 100 Major League at-bats, Pratt is hitting .290 with a .362 on-base percentage and a .772 OPS. Lara’s sample is smaller, but he owns a .303 average, a .400 OBP and an .824 OPS through 33 at-bats.
Neither arrived in Nashville as a finished product. Sweet pushed back on the idea that they were immediately ready for the Majors, pointing instead to how quickly both absorbed instruction and applied it.
“They had a lot to learn to play at the Major League level,” Sweet said. “But both of them learned quickly. They prepared. They got better every day. They understood they had a lot to learn, and they learned it fast and put it right into their game.”
Their defensive abilities gave them an enviable foundation.
Sweet views catcher, shortstop and center field as the sport’s premier positions because of the physical skill and constant focus they demand. Pratt possesses the instincts and glove to handle shortstop. Lara can play across the outfield and is a natural in center.
Now, their bats are beginning to announce their presence, too.
Pratt said the game began slowing down once he started breathing, hunting one pitch and no longer worrying about where he was playing. Lara has carried the same unwavering confidence, insisting there is no pitcher better than him when he steps into the box.
Together, they’ve given Brewers fans an enticing glimpse of a future the organization has already invested heavily in -- and one Sweet believes could be even brighter than the impressive beginning.
“Fans are just now getting a taste of how good these two are going to be,” Sweet said. “Five years from now, they’re going to be All-Star-type players. They’re going to be making regular trips to the All-Star Game, and they’re going to be a big part of us winning a World Series.”
The Brewers didn’t simply call up two prized prospects this summer.
They welcomed a partnership years in the making -- and one they hope will remain intact for many more handshakes to come.