Brewers rookie Cooper Pratt benched for lack of hustle, missed bunt attempt: 'You've gotta be locked in'

If you want to play for Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy, you have to do all the little things right. That trait is a major reason the Brewers — despite rarely being the best team on paper — continue to exceed expectations year after year.

Unfortunately for rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt, he learned that the hard way Tuesday night.

Pratt was benched mid-inning by Murphy after the rookie failed to run out a pop up that dropped in between three Mets players. The play occurred in the fifth inning of the team’s 3-2 loss to the New York Mets.

After hitting a soft fly ball off the inside of his bat, Pratt hesitated a moment at home plate before running to first. The ball dropped in just fair down the first-base line, and Pratt wound up at first base … but only momentarily.

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

As he stood on first, Pratt quickly realized he was being replaced by pinch runner David Hamilton.

After the game, Murphy explained Pratt was removed for lack of hustle. Murphy also said Pratt missed a bunt attempt earlier in the contest, which added to the manager’s frustration.

“He’s a young player,” Murphy said. “We asked him to get a bunt down and he pulled back on a strike … [The] first one was a good attempt. Second one, he pulled back on a strike right down the middle.

“Later, next at-bat, he popped a ball up to right field and didn’t run. The ball landed and stopped — he would have easily got to second base. What could have happened after that, I’m not sure. But you can’t have a guy not understanding that.

“I know who this kid is. He’s a great kid. It’s not laziness. You gotta have your hear in the game … You’ve gotta be locked in if you’re going to play at this level. So it was hopefully a good learning experience.”

When asked whether Pratt’s swing may have been the reason the shortstop was slow out of the box, Murphy said he had not watched the play back yet.

Pratt took full responsibility for his mental errors after the game, promising they will never happen again.

Cooper Pratt: “It won’t happen again.” pic.twitter.com/ZQEoBF92z4

Murphy’s disciplinary tactic may have had its intended effect on Pratt, but it also may have cost the Brewers the game.

With the bases loaded and one out in extras, Christopher Morel hit a ground ball to Hamilton at third. A good throw would have nailed the runner at the plate, keeping the game tied, but Hamilton’s attempt sailed wide, allowing the Mets to score the game-winning run.

WALK-OFF W! #MetsWinpic.twitter.com/xVfLtu6YLT

In his first taste of the majors, the 22-year-old Pratt has performed admirably at the plate. Entering play Wednesday, Pratt carried a .259/.333/.347 slash line. That’s below the league average, but Pratt is capable of deriving value from his strong defense at one of the game’s toughest positions.

Murphy has a bit of a thing for benching young players and has used the tactic with Sal Frelick, Caleb Durbin and Tobias Myers in the past, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

While there are risks to pulling a young player in the middle of the game, Murphy has earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to managerial decisions. After his decision may have lost the team the game Tuesday, Murphy will have to hope his message to Pratt pays off down the road.