Brewers manager yanks rookie mid-game for 'inexcusable' lack of hustle

Milwaukee Brewers rookie Cooper Pratt learned a lesson the hard way Tuesday, Aug. 26, when he failed to run hard on a popup that dropped between three New York Mets fielders.

"You've got to be locked in if you're going to play at this level," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said in explaining his decision to remove Pratt for a pinch-runner immediately after the fifth-inning single.

Murphy said Pratt's lack of focus, coming after the 22-year-old failed to get a bunt down two innings earlier in a game the Brewers eventually lost 3-2 in 10 innings, was also a contributing factor in making the move.

Afterward a clearly upset Pratt briefly wiped away tears in a short interview with reporters.

"I've got to be better," he said. "It's stuff that can't happen. It's not winning baseball. I didn't help the team win, and it won't happen again, that's for sure.

"From not getting the bunt down to not running hard to first and turning it into a double, it won't happen again. I can promise you that."

Cooper Pratt was removed from the game after the Mets misplayed his pop-up. Here are two views. pic.twitter.com/a3LTb3ja3U

Pratt called his mistake "inexcusable" and said several teammates also pulled him aside to let him know, "Hey this is how we do it here."

Murphy said afterward he felt the message he was trying to send was received.

"I know who this kid is. He’s a great kid. It’s not laziness," said the two-time NL manager of the year. "You gotta have your head in the game. ... Whatever it may be, you’ve got to be locked in if you’re going to play at this level. So it was hopefully a good learning experience."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brewers manager yanks rookie mid-game for 'inexcusable' lack of hustle