Top Shortstop Prospects Sign Lucrative Deals Before MLB Debuts

Brewers' Cooper Pratt, Pirates' Konnor Griffin, and Mariners' Colt Emerson ink long-term contracts as MLB teams invest in young talent.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 3:55pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball shortstop in motion, with their body and movements fractured into sharp, overlapping planes of vibrant colors.The rise of long-term contract extensions for top shortstop prospects reflects the increasing value teams place on securing elite young talent.Today in Milwaukee

Several top shortstop prospects have signed lucrative long-term deals with MLB teams before making their big-league debuts. The Milwaukee Brewers' Cooper Pratt, the Pittsburgh Pirates' Konnor Griffin, and the Seattle Mariners' Colt Emerson have all reportedly agreed to multi-year contracts worth tens of millions of dollars, signaling a shift in how teams approach locking up elite young talent.

Why it matters

This trend of signing top prospects to extensions before their MLB debuts reflects the increasing value teams place on securing elite young talent long-term. It also highlights the depth of shortstop prospects in the current MLB pipeline, with several players considered among the best in the game despite not yet reaching the majors.

The details

The Brewers' Cooper Pratt is reportedly set to sign an 8-year, $50 million deal, while the Pirates' Konnor Griffin is nearing a 9-year, $140 million contract. The Mariners have also agreed to an 8-year, $95 million deal with prospect Colt Emerson. These deals come on the heels of other top shortstop prospects like the Red Sox's Roman Anthony, the Orioles' Samuel Basallo, and the Red Sox's Kristian Campbell signing long-term extensions with minimal MLB service time.

  • The Brewers and Pratt reportedly agreed to his extension on March 30, 2026.
  • The Pirates and Griffin are close to finalizing his 9-year, $140 million deal ahead of his expected MLB debut this week.
  • The Mariners and Emerson reportedly agreed to his 8-year, $95 million extension recently.

The players

Cooper Pratt

A top shortstop prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers' farm system who is reportedly set to sign an 8-year, $50 million extension with the team.

Konnor Griffin

Considered the top prospect in baseball, the Pittsburgh Pirates' shortstop is nearing a 9-year, $140 million deal ahead of his expected MLB debut this week.

Colt Emerson

A top-10 MLB prospect, the Seattle Mariners' shortstop has reportedly agreed to an 8-year, $95 million extension.

Jesús Made

The Milwaukee Brewers' shortstop prospect is widely expected to soon become the new No. 1 prospect in baseball, surpassing Konnor Griffin and Kevin McGonigle.

Leo De Vries

The Oakland Athletics' shortstop prospect is hot on the heels of Jesús Made for the title of top prospect in baseball.

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What’s next

If Griffin indeed debuts this week, he will be younger than Jackson Chourio was when he started the 2024 season with the Brewers.

The takeaway

The flurry of long-term contract extensions for top shortstop prospects before their MLB debuts reflects the increasing value teams place on securing elite young talent. This trend highlights the depth of shortstop prospects in the current pipeline and could signal a shift in how teams approach locking up their future stars.