Nick Pratto’s Bat Inspires Confidence In Royals

First baseman Nick Pratto has been in the national spotlight long before the Royals picked him 14th overall in the draft.

In the 2011 Little League World Series championship game, Pratto hit a two-out, walk-off single that lifted Huntington Beach, Calif., to a 2-1 triumph against Japan.

“He’s an absolute winner,” Royals general manager Dayton Moore said.

Pratto has grown into a 6-foot-1, 193-pound high school senior and the best prep hitter in his draft class. He hit .318 with seven home runs at Huntington Beach High last season.

“In the first round, you want to take the player or pitcher you think has the highest upside,” Moore said. “That’s our philosophy. That’s what we feel is important. You want to take the best player available. We’re just going to take the guy we think has got a chance to be an all-star.”

Pratto is a plus defender at first base, but Moore said he could play the outfield. But it is Pratto’s sweet lefthanded swing and plate discipline at a young age that made him a first-round pick.

“Young hitters, the most important attribute is they learn to center the ball on the bat in different areas of the strike zone,” Moore said. “He has the ability to do that. He also has the ability to hit the ball out of the park. He is a guy who can use all of the field as a hitter. He’s got power that we believe will develop.”

Pratto has a scholarship to Southern California, but Moore said signability is not an issue.

“He’s an advanced high school hitter,” Moore said. “We’re highly confident he’ll go out and adjust quickly.”

Area scout Rich Amaral, who played 10 years in the majors, has been familiar with Pratto since he was a Little League star.

In the second round, the Royals took high school catcher M.J. Melendez, the son of Florida International coach Mervyl Melendez.