Shuckers Spring Training Notebook Part 1

From March 13-20, the “Voice of the Shuckers”, Javik Blake, will be at Brewers Spring Training in Phoenix, Arizona. Including interviews and videos across the Shuckers' social media channels, he’ll also publish Spring Training Notebooks throughout the trip, highlighting the top moments, quotes and videos as the team gets set for the 2025 season.

Hello from Maryvale and American Family Fields of Phoenix! While the Shuckers Front Office is getting ready for the 2025 home opener on Tuesday, April 8 against the Columbus Clingstones, the 2025 Shuckers are getting set in Arizona with Spring Training before heading east in late March. Minor League Spring Training games are in full-swing at the backfields across the Cactus League and multiple former and future Shuckers are getting chances to fill-in and impress in MLB games.

FRIDAY

The Shuckers spent Friday on the road at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick against the Amarillo Sod Poodles, Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Despite the Double-A opponent, big league arms Zac Gallen and Tommy Henry both appeared for the Sod Poodles.

Cooper Pratt, facing the former MLB All-Star Gallen, ripped a single into left-center. The 20-year-old has made headlines throughout camp, including praise from Milwaukee Brewers’ manager Pat Murphy for his play on the big league side.

Cooper Pratt single off Zac Gallen on the backfields? Yes please 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/iAM2M9GWoH

— Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) March 14, 2025

Other notable moments included home runs from Zavier Warren, Matt Wood and Garrett Spain. Luis Lara, who looks noticeably stronger entering camp this season, smashed a triple off the wall in deep center.

Luis Lara off the wall in center plus some WHEELS for a triple 👀#ShuckYeah #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/MliVTjzWNn

— Javik Blake (@javblake8) March 14, 2025

Tate Kuehner got the start for the Shuckers, after making six starts in Double-A a year ago, and was followed by Alexander Cornielle and Patricio Aquino.

2024 Shuckers’ Justin Yeager and Ryan Middendorf made appearances in the big league game against the San Francisco Giants. Yeager, who led the Southern League with 20 saves in 2024, also helped lead Indios De Mayaguez to the Caribbean Season during the off-season.

SATURDAY

With the big league club playing a split squad game, the Shuckers and the Minor League side of camp had an intra-squad camp day on the back fields of American Family Fields of Phoenix.

On the big league side, Cooper Pratt, who appeared in games two and three of the Southern League Division Series for the Shuckers, slotted into the starting shortstop spot after a late scratch to the lineup.

Pratt went 2-for-3 with a walk, two singles and an RBI. The day brought his average up to .389 (7-for-18) with three doubles, five RBI and a .977 OPS with the big league club. If Pratt records at least 20 plate appearances with the Shuckers in 2025, he would become the fifth hitter under 21 years old to reach the mark in franchise history. Others include: Dylan O’Rae (2024), Jackson Chourio (2022-23), Jeferson Quero (2023), Orlando Arcia (2015).

Cooper Pratt. That’s the tweet.

(Bubble wrap???)

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/0FO33aLILW

— Javik Blake (@javblake8) March 15, 2025

NOTABLES QUOTES

Craig Yoho on Success in 2024 - “I had a good start to the year in High-A and got confidence. Then moving to Biloxi, that’s when baseball starts to get real, in Double-A. So having the success there, having the coaching staff there and having the group of guys there be really welcoming helped me relax, go out here, do my thing and make me feel like ok, I belong when I went to Triple-A.”

Great to catch up with #Brewers MiLB Co-Pitcher of the Year Craig Yoho this morning about being in big league camp, learning from the coaching and pitching staff and transferring confidence from a great 2024 season!#ShuckYeah #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/caegg49HWR

— Javik Blake (@javblake8) March 15, 2025

Pat Murphy on Cooper Pratt’s Two-Hit Day - “He’s a 20-year-old kid that just continues to impress with his feel for the game. That’s what he’s got, a real feel for the game. You don’t find many 20-year-olds that have that. He’s from a baseball family and you forget that he’s 20 because he plays with such understanding and vision of the game.”

Postgame comments from #Brewers Manager Pat Murphy after another impressive performance from 20 y/o Cooper Pratt#ShuckYeah #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/FSFOpzL45A

— Javik Blake (@javblake8) March 15, 2025

UP NEXT

Nine former Shuckers will suit up with the Brewers top prospects for the Spring Breakout game at 6:40 p.m. CT on Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds top prospects. The game will air live on MLB Network and will follow the regular scheduled Brewers Spring Training game against the Guardians.

The former Shuckers include Will Childers (’24), Blake Holub (’24), Darrien Miller (’24), Jacob Misiorowski (’23-’24), Dylan O’Rae (’24), Cooper Pratt (’24), Brett Wichrowski (’24), Brock Wilken (’23-’24) and Craig Yoho (’24). All nine players appeared in at least one game with the Shuckers in 2024, including Southern League All-Star Blake Holub, who held a 0.34 ERA with eight saves across 26.1 innings. The roster also includes Craig Yoho, the Milwaukee Brewers Co-Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2024. Cooper Pratt, a Mississippi native, was named a Brewers Minor League Co-Player of the Year and was awarded a Rawlings Minor League Gold Glove® Award in 2024. Other top prospects include the Brewers' top pitching prospect, Jacob Misiorowski and Brett Wichrowski, a top-15 prospect by Baseball America and MLB Pipeline.

The Shuckers will return to Spring Training game action on Monday, March 17 against the Akron RubberDucks, Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians at American Family Fields of Phoenix.