MILWAUKEE -- Brewers rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt’s first Major League home run came at the expense of an old friend.
Pratt started his first career three-hit night by connecting for a second-inning solo shot on Monday night against the Mets’ Freddy Peralta, the longtime Brewers right-hander who returned to American Family Field as a visitor for the first time and got knocked around in Milwaukee’s 8-3 win.
“That’s a cool one to get the first one off of, for sure,” Pratt said. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget who I hit my first one off of.”
Pratt, summoned to the big leagues on June 16, was hitting .244 with seven RBIs in his first 27 games before connecting for his first home run in game No. 28 on Monday night, when he made his 26th start at shortstop. Teammates gave him the old silent treatment when he returned to the dugout – another big league first for the 21-year-old.
“I felt like it’s been about time since Game 1,” Pratt said. “Finally. But we won, so it’s even better.”
Was his quest for home run No. 1 weighing on him?
“Yes and no,” Pratt said. “I mean, obviously I wanted to do it. I got close a couple of times. But I didn’t go in there trying to hit it. It was in the back of my head, but I was just trying to hit a fastball. Then I hit a slider and it snuck out.”
Pratt surpassed the 100-plate appearance threshold on Monday night (he’s at 101 and counting) and owns a solid .267/.356/.360 slash line to begin his Major League career.
“As long as we’re winning,” he said, “everything’s good.”