Cooper Pratt experienced one of the first significant lessons of his young MLB career during the Milwaukee Brewers’ 3-2 loss to the New York Mets in 10 innings Tuesday.

The 22-year-old shortstop was removed after reaching base in the fifth inning on a high popup to right field that appeared likely to be caught before eventually landing fair.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy and his coaching staff believed Pratt did not hustle sufficiently out of the batter’s box and expected him to reach second base once the ball dropped.

Milwaukee responded by replacing Pratt with pinch runner David Hamilton.

The decision was not based solely on that play.

During Pratt’s first plate appearance, the coaching staff instructed him to lay down a bunt with runners on first and second and one out. Pratt failed to execute it, contributing to Murphy’s decision to remove him later.

Rather than objecting to the benching, Pratt accepted responsibility afterward.

According to Lily Zhao from FOX6 News Milwaukee, Pratt acknowledged that Milwaukee’s objective is winning and that his responsibility is helping accomplish that goal.

He admitted he failed to do so Tuesday, appreciated being held accountable and insisted the mistake would not happen again.

“Our goal is to win. My job is to help the team win. I didn’t do that today. They hold you accountable, which is good. I need that. It will never happen again,” Pratt said.

Some Brewers fans felt Murphy was too harsh on the young shortstop and believed the manager was using Pratt to send a message to the entire roster with the final month of the regular season approaching.

Regardless of the reasoning, the episode appears to have made an impression on Pratt.

He has been solid during his brief time in MLB, particularly defensively at shortstop.

His absence may also have affected how the game ultimately ended.

Hamilton, who initially entered as Pratt’s pinch runner, committed the errant throw to home plate that resulted in the game-winning run for New York.

According to Adam McCalvy from MLB.com, Murphy emphasized afterward that players must remain completely locked in to compete at the MLB level. The manager hopes the experience becomes an important lesson for Pratt.

“You’ve got to be locked in if you’re going to play at this level,” Murphy said.

“It was hopefully a good learning experience.”

How the young shortstop handled the situation may ultimately matter more than the mistake itself.

Accountability is particularly important for a developing player, and Pratt immediately demonstrated a willingness to accept criticism rather than become defensive about Murphy’s decision.

That mentality can accelerate his development.

Pratt also brings the type of defensive ability that can make him valuable even when he is not producing offensively. Playing shortstop requires concentration, anticipation and confidence because one mistake can immediately change an inning.

His response also demonstrated maturity beyond simply accepting a benching.

Young players inevitably make mistakes while adjusting to the demands of MLB. The important part is whether those moments become recurring problems or learning experiences.

Pratt made his position clear.

For a Brewers team approaching the most important part of its season, his ability to respond positively and remain focused could make Tuesday’s difficult lesson valuable in the long run.