Nick Pratto

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #4 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Like teammate MJ Melendez, Pratto suffered through a miserable 2019 season at High-A Wilmington and went to work improving his swing and approach at the plate. The work paid off in 2021 as Pratto hit 36 home runs while rising from Double-A to Triple-A, tied for the second most home runs in the minor leagues, and finished the season with a .988 OPS.
  
  Scouting Report: The key changes that Pratto made revolved around developing a new approach and mindset at the plate and adapting a more efficient bat path to allow his barrel to get into the zone sooner. This was helped further by the innate bat speed and quickness in his hands. Pratto now hits the ball in the air with more authority and will continue to add strength to his frame. Pratto sees the ball well and has shown that he can pick up spin, and a key factor in his improvement was better pitch selection. He doesn’t miss his pitch to hit, especially those at higher velocities. Pratto also handles lefthanded pitchers well. While not a burner, Pratto continues to reach double-digit stolen bases every year, with sneaky instincts allowing his speed to play up on the bases. He’s at least a plus defender at first base, with some plus-plus grades given to his glove and projections that he will win Gold Glove awards.
  
  The Future: First base has been a position of need for the Royals since Eric Hosmer departed as a free agent. Pratto will head to spring training vying to earn playing time in the big leagues, although additional Triple-A seasoning would provide long-term benefit for his career.
  
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #10 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Pratto had a long amateur track record, notching the winning hit in the 2011 Little League World Series and starring for USA Baseball's junior national teams throughout high school. The Royals drafted him 14th overall in 2017 and signed him for $3.45 million. Pratto was supposed to be a polished hitter who could move fast, but he's instead struggled to make contact and hit .191/.278/.310 at high Class A Wilmington in 2019. He spent 2020 at the Royals' alternate training site.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Pratto's swing was non-functional in games, so he refined his body and hand movement at the alternate site to find a more efficient bat path and get his bat in the zone sooner. He had also been overly passive at the plate, but the Royals saw progress that resulted in an uptick in his walk rate and hard-hit rate and a drop in his strikeout rate at the alternate site. Pratto has always been a standout defender at first base with good hands and footwork. He's a below-average runner but has sneaky instincts that allow his speed to play up on the bases.
  
  THE FUTURE: Pratto still has to prove he can hit in live games. If he doesn't, he was a standout pitcher in high school and could move to the mound.
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #10 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Pratto entered the 2017 draft with a decorated track record that included multiple gold medals playing for USA Baseball's junior national teams. The Royals drafted him 14th overall and signed him for $3.45 million. Pratto's amateur success has not translated to pro ball. He hit just .191 in a miserable season for high Class A Wilmington in 2019, though he hit seven of his nine home runs in the second half and got hot in time to help the Blue Rocks win the Carolina League championship.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: While the results were subpar, Pratto impressed observers by consistently putting together good at-bats and staying mentally tough through his struggles. He shows good instincts at the plate but needs to be more aggressive and avoid deep counts. He flashes average power and has the physical tools to hit .260 or better with an improved approach. Pratto's struggles at the plate didn't affect his work in the field, where he projects as a plus defender at first base with sound footwork, soft hands and an above-average arm. He is a fringe-average runner, but his advanced baserunning instincts have led to at least 10 stolen bases every year.
  
  THE FUTURE: Pratto spent the fall working with new Royals hitting coordinators Drew Saylor and Keoni De Renne. His offseason progress will determine where he opens 2020.
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #7 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Pratto was the Royals' first-round pick in 2017 after an illustrious high school career in Southern California and with multiple Team USA clubs. He was also an effective pitcher in high school, but scouts were unanimous that his pro future was as a hitter. Pratto got off to a slow start in 2018 but finished strong by compiling a 1.106 OPS in his final 32 games and followed that with a .333/.474/.600 batting line in the South Atlantic League playoffs. He also was named the MVP of the league's all-star game.
  
  Scouting Report: Pratto's late-season improvement at the plate came after he shortened his swing and got more aggressive. Before that, he struggled to handle premium velocity, but his adjustments helped him fix that issue. His 28 percent strikeout rate was surprisingly high for a hitter with his advanced approach and batting eye--most scouts have seen him as a hit-first first baseman with developing power. While scouts question whether he'll develop the plus home run power desired from a first baseman, he has the potential to be a plus hitter who needs to figure out how to tap into his plus raw power. A fringe-average runner, Pratto is a heady baserunner. He's an above-average defender with good footwork, good hands and instincts.
  
  The Future: Pratto's strong finish helped allay some concerns about his bat. He'll have to continue to develop more power, but he has the potential to be an everyday first baseman with a plus bat and at least average power.
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #1 prospect in 2018
  The Royals used the 14th overall pick in the 2017 draft to select Southern California high school first baseman Pratto, nine years after taking Eric Hosmer third overall in 2008. Prep first basemen are a rare commodity in the first round, with only Josh Naylor (Marlins, 2015) and Dominic Smith (Mets, 2013) being other recent examples. Pratto first bust on the scene as part of the winning California team in the 2011 Little League World Series in which he delivered the game-winning hit against Japan. He played with Team USA's 18U national team for two summers, bringing home world championships in both 2015 and 2016. A two-way player throughout his amateur career, Pratto drew draft interest as a southpaw pitcher, and would have both pitched and hit had he honored his commitment to Southern California. Instead, he signed with the Royals for $3.45 million shortly after the draft and began his pro career in the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he ranked as that circuit's No. 9 prospect. He hit .247/.330/.414 in the AZL with four home runs, coming on strong in August when he cut down on strikeouts and put more balls in play. Pratto profiles as a middle-of-the-order hitter thanks to a low-maintenance swing, above-average bat speed and the ability to use the whole field. His loose wrists and advanced approach allow Pratto to adjust to pitches late. He's still learning how to get to his power, but he drives balls to all fields and will add strength to an already powerful frame. Pratto is already a plus defender at first with good footwork and instincts. He's not flashy but knows how to play. His above-average arm and athleticism would allow him to handle a corner outfield position, but for now he's a first baseman. Pratto is a below-average runner but with good instincts that should get him double-digit steals at least early in his career. He takes a solid attitude and demeanor to the field, maintains an even keel and is competitive by nature. Pratto has enough baseball savvy and experience for his age that he could likely handle a jump to full-season ball in 2018 with a possible assignment to low Class A Lexington. The Royals have a longer instructional league period than most other Arizona-based teams, so the extra work and experience against more advanced pitching will help Pratto make that next step. His upside is as a starting first baseman at the big league level.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #24 prospect in 2017 draft
  The legend of Nick Pratto began at the 2011 Little League World Series, when he hit a walkoff single to give California a 2-1 victory over Japan in the championship game. Pratto's legend has only grown since; as a legitimate two-way performer he starred for the 18U National Team in each of the two summers prior to his senior year. On the mound, Pratto attacks hitters with an upper 80s fastball that can reach as high as 91. He's able to pound the strike zone and locate his fastball to both sides of the plate. His best offspeed pitch for the next level is his filthy changeup, which shows plus fade and was an out pitch for him on the showcase circuit. Pratto also throws a three-quarter breaking ball that shows promising shape and spin but is a below-average pitch at present. Pratto's future, however, is in the batter's box. He's a lefthanded hitter with strike zone awareness and plate discipline well beyond his years. Pratto stands close to the plate and covers it well. He has exceptionally loose wrists and creates separation in his swing, giving himself time to adjust to pitches late and keep himself alive in counts. Pratto has advanced pitch recognition and timing. The biggest development of Pratto's draft year was the growth of his raw power; it's become a plus tool for him and he's capable of hitting the ball out to the opposite field or pulling it 400-plus feet. He's still learning how to get to all of that power, but the ball consistently comes off his bat with authority in games and he should develop more game power as it becomes a bigger part of his approach. Pratto is a near-average runner and has enough arm strength to play the outfield, but he's a very advanced defender at first base at present. He is committed to Southern California, where he'd likely begin his collegiate career pitching on the weekend and hitting in the middle of the lineup, but he is expected to be drafted in the first round as a position player. Scouts compare him to Joey Votto because of his offensive skillset and competitive spirit.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #17 prospect in 2018
  When Pratto was elected to play in the South Atlantic League all-star game, it seemed like a mistake. The first baseman was hitting only .238/.288/.367 at the break. But he rewarded voters by hitting .322/.394/.518 in the second half as he turned himself into one of the more feared hitters in the league. He also hit .333/.474/.600 during the playoffs as he helped the Lexington to the league title. Pratto struggled some with velocity early in the season, but got better at both figuring out his pitch to hit and being short enough to the ball to do something with it as the season wore on. There are still scouts who question whether he'll hit for the plus power expected of a first baseman, but evaluators see a future above-average hitter. He's an above-average defender at first base and is surprisingly adept at swiping bases despite fringe-average speed, stealing 22 bags in 27 tries, giving him another way to beat teams beyond his above-average bat and glove.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Complex League #9 prospect in 2017
  Pratto was familiar to the baseball world long before his pro debut, first because of his exploits in the 2011 Little League World Series and later as a two-way player on the USA Baseball 18U National Team. He played both ways in high school, but the Royals will develop him as a hitter after drafting him 14th overall. While the numbers didn't show it in his pro debut, Pratto profiles as a middle-of-the-order hitter thanks to a low-maintenance swing and ability to use the whole field. He doesn't have plus power, but he projects to have enough pop for the position. Royals manager Darryl Kennedy compared Pratto with Eric Hosmer at the same age. Pratto projects to be a plus defender at first base with solid footwork and good instincts. He's a below-average runner, but has the instincts to steal 10-20 bases a year. "He's got a good attitude and a good demeanor about himself," Kennedy said. "He stays on an even keel."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #43 prospect in 2022

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 55/Medium
  
  Track Record: Like teammate MJ Melendez, Pratto suffered through a miserable 2019 season at High-A Wilmington and went to work improving his swing and approach at the plate. The work paid off in 2021 as Pratto hit 36 home runs while rising from Double-A to Triple-A, tied for the second most home runs in the minor leagues, and finished the season with a .988 OPS.
  
  Scouting Report: The key changes that Pratto made revolved around developing a new approach and mindset at the plate and adapting a more efficient bat path to allow his barrel to get into the zone sooner. This was helped further by the innate bat speed and quickness in his hands. Pratto now hits the ball in the air with more authority and will continue to add strength to his frame. Pratto sees the ball well and has shown that he can pick up spin, and a key factor in his improvement was better pitch selection. He doesn&#39t miss his pitch to hit, especially those at higher velocities. Pratto also handles lefthanded pitchers well. While not a burner, Pratto continues to reach double-digit stolen bases every year, with sneaky instincts allowing his speed to play up on the bases. He&#39s at least a plus defender at first base, with some plus-plus grades given to his glove and projections that he will win Gold Glove awards.
  
  The Future: First base has been a position of need for the Royals since Eric Hosmer departed as a free agent. Pratto will head to spring training vying to earn playing time in the big leagues, although additional Triple-A seasoning would provide long-term benefit for his career.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 60. Speed: 45. Fielding: 60 Arm: 55.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Like teammate MJ Melendez, Pratto suffered through a miserable 2019 season at High-A Wilmington and went to work improving his swing and approach at the plate. The work paid off in 2021 as Pratto hit 36 home runs while rising from Double-A to Triple-A, tied for the second most home runs in the minor leagues, and finished the season with a .988 OPS.
  
  Scouting Report: The key changes that Pratto made revolved around developing a new approach and mindset at the plate and adapting a more efficient bat path to allow his barrel to get into the zone sooner. This was helped further by the innate bat speed and quickness in his hands. Pratto now hits the ball in the air with more authority and will continue to add strength to his frame. Pratto sees the ball well and has shown that he can pick up spin, and a key factor in his improvement was better pitch selection. He doesn’t miss his pitch to hit, especially those at higher velocities. Pratto also handles lefthanded pitchers well. While not a burner, Pratto continues to reach double-digit stolen bases every year, with sneaky instincts allowing his speed to play up on the bases. He’s at least a plus defender at first base, with some plus-plus grades given to his glove and projections that he will win Gold Glove awards.
  
  The Future: First base has been a position of need for the Royals since Eric Hosmer departed as a free agent. Pratto will head to spring training vying to earn playing time in the big leagues, although additional Triple-A seasoning would provide long-term benefit for his career.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Pratto had a long amateur track record, notching the winning hit in the 2011 Little League World Series and starring for USA Baseball's junior national teams throughout high school. The Royals drafted him 14th overall in 2017 and signed him for $3.45 million. Pratto was supposed to be a polished hitter who could move fast, but he's instead struggled to make contact and hit .191/.278/.310 at high Class A Wilmington in 2019. He spent 2020 at the Royals' alternate training site.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Pratto's swing was non-functional in games, so he refined his body and hand movement at the alternate site to find a more efficient bat path and get his bat in the zone sooner. He had also been overly passive at the plate, but the Royals saw progress that resulted in an uptick in his walk rate and hard-hit rate and a drop in his strikeout rate at the alternate site. Pratto has always been a standout defender at first base with good hands and footwork. He's a below-average runner but has sneaky instincts that allow his speed to play up on the bases.
  
  THE FUTURE: Pratto still has to prove he can hit in live games. If he doesn't, he was a standout pitcher in high school and could move to the mound.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Pratto had a long amateur track record, notching the winning hit in the 2011 Little League World Series and starring for USA Baseball's junior national teams throughout high school. The Royals drafted him 14th overall in 2017 and signed him for $3.45 million. Pratto was supposed to be a polished hitter who could move fast, but he's instead struggled to make contact and hit .191/.278/.310 at high Class A Wilmington in 2019. He spent 2020 at the Royals' alternate training site.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Pratto's swing was non-functional in games, so he refined his body and hand movement at the alternate site to find a more efficient bat path and get his bat in the zone sooner. He had also been overly passive at the plate, but the Royals saw progress that resulted in an uptick in his walk rate and hard-hit rate and a drop in his strikeout rate at the alternate site. Pratto has always been a standout defender at first base with good hands and footwork. He's a below-average runner but has sneaky instincts that allow his speed to play up on the bases.
  
  THE FUTURE: Pratto still has to prove he can hit in live games. If he doesn't, he was a standout pitcher in high school and could move to the mound.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Pratto had a long amateur track record, notching the winning hit in the 2011 Little League World Series and starring for USA Baseball's junior national teams throughout high school. The Royals drafted him 14th overall in 2017 and signed him for $3.45 million. Pratto was supposed to be a polished hitter who could move fast, but he's instead struggled to make contact and hit .191/.278/.310 at high Class A Wilmington in 2019. He spent 2020 at the Royals' alternate training site.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Pratto's swing was non-functional in games, so he refined his body and hand movement at the alternate site to find a more efficient bat path and get his bat in the zone sooner. He had also been overly passive at the plate, but the Royals saw progress that resulted in an uptick in his walk rate and hard-hit rate and a drop in his strikeout rate at the alternate site. Pratto has always been a standout defender at first base with good hands and footwork. He's a below-average runner but has sneaky instincts that allow his speed to play up on the bases.
  
  THE FUTURE: Pratto still has to prove he can hit in live games. If he doesn't, he was a standout pitcher in high school and could move to the mound.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Pratto entered the 2017 draft with a decorated track record that included multiple gold medals playing for USA Baseball’s junior national teams. The Royals drafted him 14th overall and signed him for $3.45 million. Pratto’s amateur success has not translated to pro ball. He hit just .191 in a miserable season for high Class A Wilmington in 2019, though he hit seven of his nine home runs in the second half and got hot in time to help the Blue Rocks win the Carolina League championship.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: While the results were subpar, Pratto impressed observers by consistently putting together good at-bats and staying mentally tough through his struggles. He shows good instincts at the plate but needs to be more aggressive and avoid deep counts. He flashes average power and has the physical tools to hit .260 or better with an improved approach. Pratto’s struggles at the plate didn’t affect his work in the field, where he projects as a plus defender at first base with sound footwork, soft hands and an above-average arm. He is a fringe-average runner, but his advanced baserunning instincts have led to at least 10 stolen bases every year.
  
  THE FUTURE: Pratto spent the fall working with new Royals hitting coordinators Drew Saylor and Keoni De Renne. His offseason progress will determine where he opens 2020.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Pratto entered the 2017 draft with a decorated track record that included multiple gold medals playing for USA Baseball's junior national teams. The Royals drafted him 14th overall and signed him for $3.45 million. Pratto's amateur success has not translated to pro ball. He hit just .191 in a miserable season for high Class A Wilmington in 2019, though he hit seven of his nine home runs in the second half and got hot in time to help the Blue Rocks win the Carolina League championship.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: While the results were subpar, Pratto impressed observers by consistently putting together good at-bats and staying mentally tough through his struggles. He shows good instincts at the plate but needs to be more aggressive and avoid deep counts. He flashes average power and has the physical tools to hit .260 or better with an improved approach. Pratto's struggles at the plate didn't affect his work in the field, where he projects as a plus defender at first base with sound footwork, soft hands and an above-average arm. He is a fringe-average runner, but his advanced baserunning instincts have led to at least 10 stolen bases every year.
  
  THE FUTURE: Pratto spent the fall working with new Royals hitting coordinators Drew Saylor and Keoni De Renne. His offseason progress will determine where he opens 2020.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Drafted in the first round last year, He has not yet put up big numbers as a pro, raising questions by some observers whether as to whether his bat will play at first base. Royals officials project Pratto to be a solid-average to plus hitter in time with at least average game power, but it’s coming slowly. The biggest issue this year is his high number of strikeouts, but at 19 he’s young for the level and is working hard on necessary improvements. He has average range at first base and the hands work well there.