Brewers' Pratt celebrates MiLB Gold Glove with family ... and a home run

It’s not often that in the winding world of Minor League Baseball, you find your way back home again. But for Cooper Pratt, playing for Double-A Biloxi has meant a return to Mississippi -- the state in which he grew up -- in his second full season as a pro. And specifically Thursday night, it meant that as he was honored as a 2024 MiLB Gold Glove Award winner, he got to do so with his family by his side.

Grandparents in from Utah. Parents down from northern Mississippi. It all swelled into a pregame ceremony that recognized Pratt, MLB’s No. 53 prospect, for his defensive accomplishments.

But then his bat stole the show.

With the Biloxi-Montgomery game knotted in the bottom of the sixth, Pratt got a slider on the outer third that he was able to launch deep into the night sky to his pull side. It kicked off a six-run inning that vaulted the Shuckers past the Rays affiliate for a 7-3 win at Keesler Federal Park.

The fact that his family was even at the ballpark was a case of happenstance. The Pratt clan was visiting older brother Ozzie as he suited up for Southern Miss while another brother was playing in a nearby high school tournament. That familial connection has been strong over the past few months, and while the brothers are different ages, they’ve seemingly had a case of home run telepathy on par with twins.

Back on April 8, both Cooper and Ozzie went deep in their respective games. Unique, but not nearly as serendipitous as during spring camp when Cooper homered on a back field while Ozzie reached the fences for the Golden Eagles and younger brother Quincy, an Ole Miss recruit in the class of 2027, went yard for Magnolia Heights HS (Senatobia, Miss.), which has seen its fair share of Pratt homers over the years.

So with the family flocked into one area, then came the call that the 20-year-old Pratt would get to hold up that big golden plaque Thursday.

“When I found out last year, it was unbelievable, man,” Pratt said. “I kind of was at a loss for words when I found out. I wasn't really expecting it 'cause I didn't think I was even a consideration.

“It just surprised me that people were actually seeing that I was playing defense. … I knew I was playing good defense, but I just figured everyone was playing good defense. I didn't think I was doing anything spectacular or anything like that.”

Pratt grades out as a plus defender, one equipped with an above-average throwing arm. Milwaukee went over slot to sign him as a sixth-round pick in 2023, handing him second-round money ($1.35 million) to forgo his own Ole Miss commitment.

The departure of shortstop Willy Adames this past offseason had the club’s No. 3 prospect in a unique spot heading into Spring Training this year, especially in an organization in which young Jackson Chourio excelled at every stop in his rapid ascension.

The jump from High-A to Double-A is often considered the most telling move up the Minor League ladder. In Pratt’s case, it also means being closer to the comforts family can provide. Early returns have been promising as he has collected a hit in 13 of 18 games (slashing .267/.325/.440), walking (six) nearly as many times as he has struck out (seven). To boot, he has faced a pitcher older than him in every 2025 plate appearance.

Gone are the days in which shortstops can ascend to the big leagues merely on their gloves alone. But in Pratt’s case, he’s more than comfortable being a bigger body (6-foot-3, 206 pounds) who can man the six and impact a lineup.

“[Brewers senior vice president of player development] Tom Flanagan texted me a picture of a Gold Glove [last year],” Pratt said of learning the news. “I was like, ‘holy smokes.’ And then I called my dad and my mom and told them and they were pretty excited for me, man.

“This is definitely one of the goals I've had, ever since I was a little kid. I take a lot of pride in my defense, so being able to win that last year was pretty unbelievable.”