Milwaukee Brewers' Luis Lara follows through with his swing against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game March 16 in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, file)

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers outfield prospect Luis Lara has been called up to the major leagues nearly a month after signing a seven-year, $31 million contract.

The NL Central-leading Brewers announced before their doubleheader Tuesday with the St. Louis Cardinals that they had promoted Lara and optioned outfielder Blake Perkins to Triple-A Nashville.

Milwaukee also placed infielder David Hamilton on the 10-day injured list because of a strained left hamstring, selected utilityman Greg Jones from Nashville and transferred outfielder Brandon Lockridge to the 60-day IL.

Lara, 21, was still playing for Nashville when the Brewers signed him last month to a deal that runs through 2032 and includes club options for 2033, 2034 and 2035.

“I just really was trying to stay prepared, you know, mentally knowing that this moment could come at any given time, and the moment came,” Lara said in Spanish through an interpreter. “So now it’s just kind of doing what I was doing in Triple-A and just going out there and enjoying the game and having fun while playing it.”

The 5-foot-7 outfielder from Venezuela has long been regarded as an outstanding fielder, but he’s having a breakthrough season at the plate.

Lara hit .321 with a .432 on-base percentage, .470 slugging percentage, nine homers, 42 RBIs and 24 steals in 78 games with Nashville. He batted .257 with a .369 on-base percentage and .343 slugging percentage in 136 games for Double-A Biloxi last season.