short hops
A year after helping his rookie-level club win a league title, Cooper Pratt is chasing another championship in the High-Class A Midwest League. The 2023 Mississippi prep player of the year at Magnolia Heights knocked in the tying run and scored the game-winner Thursday as Wisconsin beat Quad Cities 7-6 to advance to the MWL Championship Series. Pratt, a .277 hitter at two levels in 2024, had three hits and scored three times for the Timber Rattlers, a Milwaukee affiliate. Pratt is the Brewers’ No. 2 prospect. … Former Mississippi State right-hander K.C. Hunt threw six shutout innings to notch his first Double-A win as Biloxi beat visiting Mississippi 8-1 in Game 2 of a doubleheader. Hunt, the Brewers’ No. 29 prospect, is 1-2, 2.20 ERA, for the Shuckers and 8-3, 2.03, overall this year. … Former Shuckers star Jackson Chourio hit his 20th home run for Milwaukee, becoming the youngest player, at age 20, to post a 20-homer/20-steal season in major league history. … Ex-Ole Miss standout Kemp Alderman belted his first Double-A homer for Pensacola (Miami affiliate) and now has eight bombs over four levels in his second pro season. … UM alum Tim Elko hit his eighth homer for Triple-A Charlotte (Chicago White Sox) and now has 50 in his three-season minor league career. … Former MSU star Brent Rooker hit his 36th homer for Oakland and extended his on-base streak to 22 games, best current streak in MLB. … UM product Grae Kessinger was recalled from the minors by Houston but did not play in Thursday’s win against the A’s. Kessinger, batting .262 in Triple-A, is 0-for-15 in his limited duty with the Astros this season. … Ole Miss and Southern Miss will meet at Trustmark Park on March 18 next season, and Mississippi State and Ole Miss will play the annual Governor’s Cup game on April 22 at the Pearl ballpark. MSU is slated to play Southern Miss in a home-and-home series in 2025 but no game in Pearl. MSU will play two non-conference games in Biloxi (March 11-12).