Minutes after winning the World Series, Cooper Pratt celebrated by thanking his Heavenly Father in his postgame interview with Fox Sports on Wednesday.
The next day, Pratt, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, shared his testimony of God and commitment to living his faith on the church’s official social media accounts.
“Growing up, it was always God, family, and baseball,” he wrote in the post. “There were a lot of late nights practicing, a lot of traveling, and sometimes it was hard to get to church. But my parents helped me build a foundation on a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
The Brewers rookie, who made his MLB debut in June, became a breakout star this postseason.
He hit a home run and batted in seven runs in the World Series. He became the first rookie in World Series history to record four hits and a home run in a single game and a hit in six straight at-bats, as the Deseret News reported.
What Cooper Pratt said about his faith
Pratt “always had a testimony,” but after he was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2023, he decided to read the Book of Mormon in its entirety for the first time.
“One of the guys I was drafted with shared my faith,” he said. “We became roommates and studied the scriptures together. As I read, I received personal revelation. That’s when my testimony really became stronger.
“I could see Heavenly Father’s hand in putting someone like that in my life. Reading helped me strengthen my testimony, and living what I believed gave me more opportunities to recognize His hand.”
At a young age, Pratt’s mother taught him about paying tithing and the blessings that come from it.
“As I’ve kept that commitment, I’ve learned that the blessings can be physical, too,” he said. “For me, being able to play baseball at my best is a blessing I connect directly to paying my tithing.”
Pratt said he has tried to reflect on how God has blessed him in both the “good” and “rough” years of baseball.
“Sometimes you’re asking Heavenly Father, ‘Please help me,’ and you forget how much he’s already helped,” he said. “Looking back helped me recognize the opportunities and blessings he had already given me.”
What Cooper Pratt said about the Word of Wisdom, choosing Fanta over alcohol
Pratt’s faith led to his decision to follow the Word of Wisdom, the Church of Jesus Christ’s health code which teaches members to abstain from alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, coffee and tea.
“That same commitment to living my faith carries into how I take care of myself,” he said. “Living the Word of Wisdom is a choice I made early. I’ve never wanted to drink or smoke. In high school, I watched people try vaping, get addicted and struggle to stop. I didn’t want to find myself in that situation, and I’m grateful I made that decision before I ever started playing professionally.”
Pratt’s commitment to living the Word of Wisdom went viral after he and the Brewers won the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres.
Pratt didn’t want to celebrate advancing to the National League Championship Series with alcohol, like his teammates. There wasn’t any sparkling cider available for him, so he went to the fridge and grabbed a couple of glass bottles of Fanta to drink.
“I didn’t even want to hold alcohol because I didn’t want to give the impression I was drinking it,” he said.
On Wednesday, he celebrated winning the World Series with a can of Fanta.
“Reading the Book of Mormon, paying my tithing and living the Word of Wisdom are commitments I carry with me,” he said in the post. “As I’ve lived them, the foundation my parents helped me build in the gospel of Jesus Christ has become stronger through my own experiences. Heavenly Father has really shown his hand in my life.”