Nick Pratto

Last updated

Nick Pratto
Pratto on first (53156481860) (cropped).jpg
Pratto with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2023
Kansas City Royals – No. 32
First baseman
Born: (1998-10-06) October 6, 1998 (age 25)
Huntington Beach, California, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
July 14, 2022, for the Kansas City Royals
Men's baseball
Representing Flag of the United States.svg  United States
U-18 Baseball World Cup
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2015 Osaka Team

Nicholas Michael Pratto (born October 6, 1998) is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.

Contents

Amateur career

Pratto grew up in Huntington Beach, California, and played for their Little League Baseball team in the 2011 Little League World Series. Huntington Beach made it to the championship game against Japan, and Pratto hit a walk-off single to win the championship. [1] [2] In 2015, he played for Team USA at the 18-and-under Baseball World Cup. [3]

Pratto attended Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, for his first two years of high school before transferring to Huntington Beach High School in Huntington Beach. [4] At Huntington Beach, he was teammates with Hagen Danner. [5] [6] As a senior in 2017, he hit .330 with nine home runs and 22 RBIs. [7] He committed to the University of Southern California (USC) to play college baseball. [8]

Professional career

Pratto with the 2021 Minor League Gold Glove Award Nick Pratto Gold Glove ceremony.jpg
Pratto with the 2021 Minor League Gold Glove Award

Pratto was considered one of the top prospects for the 2017 Major League Baseball draft. [9] He was selected by the Kansas City Royals with the 14th overall pick in the draft. [10] [11] He signed with the Royals, bypassing his commitment to USC for a $3.45 million signing bonus, [12] and made his professional debut with the Arizona League Royals of the Rookie-level Arizona League, posting a .247 batting average with four home runs, 34 RBI and ten stolen bases over 52 games. [13] He spent 2018 with the Lexington Legends of the Single–A South Atlantic League, slashing .280/.343/.443 with 14 home runs, 62 RBI, and 22 stolen bases over 127 games. [14]

Pratto spent the 2019 season with the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the High–A Carolina League. [15] Over 124 games, he slashed .191/.278/.310 with nine home runs and 46 RBIs. [16] Pratto did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. [17]

Pratto began the 2021 season with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of Double-A Central. [18] In June, Pratto was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game. [19] He was promoted to the Omaha Storm Chasers of Triple-A West in mid-July. [20] Over 124 games between the two teams, Pratto slashed .265/.385/.602 with 36 home runs, 98 RBIs, 28 doubles, and 12 stolen bases. [21] His 36 home runs were second in the minor leagues behind teammate MJ Melendez. [22] Following the season, he was awarded the Minor League Gold Glove Award as the best-fielding first baseman at any level of Minor League Baseball. [23]

The Royals selected Pratto to their 40-man roster following the season on November 19, 2021, to protect him from becoming eligible in the Rule 5 draft. [24] He began the 2022 season with Omaha and was promoted to the major leagues to make his major league debut on July 14. [25] He recorded his first MLB hit on July 15 versus Alek Manoah of the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre with a single in the fifth inning. [26] On July 17, Pratto hit his first career home run, a solo shot off of Toronto starter José Berríos. [27] On August 6, Pratto hit a walk-off home run off of Boston Red Sox reliever Garrett Whitlock. [28]

Pratto was optioned to Triple-A Omaha to begin the 2023 season. [29] In 95 games for Kansas City, he batted .232/.307/.353 with seven home runs and 35 RBI. Pratto was again optioned to Triple–A Omaha to begin the 2024 season, despite a strong spring training that saw him hit .421 with four home runs. [30]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Thorman</span> Canadian baseball player & coach

Scott Robert Thorman is a Canadian former first baseman and current coach who is the minor league field coordinator for the Kansas City Royals. In 2022, he was manager of the Omaha Storm Chasers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Royals. He was previously manager of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the Royals' Double-A affiliate. Managing the Royals’ former Advanced-A affiliate Wilmington Blue Rocks in 2019, he won the Mills Cup Championship. Thorman was drafted in the first round, 30th overall in the 2000 Major League Baseball draft by the Atlanta Braves. Thorman played for Canada in the inaugural 2006 World Baseball Classic and Thorman also played in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Butler (baseball)</span> American baseball player (born 1986)

Billy Ray Butler is an American former professional baseball designated hitter and first baseman and current hitting coach for the Idaho Falls Chukars of the Pioneer League. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals from 2007 to 2014, the Oakland Athletics from 2015 to 2016 and the New York Yankees in 2016. Butler was an MLB All-Star in 2012, and won the Silver Slugger Award and Edgar Martínez Award that season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Moustakas</span> American baseball player (born 1988)

Michael Christopher Moustakas is an American professional baseball third baseman who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Angels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kila Kaʻaihue</span> American baseball player

Micah Kilakila Kaʻaihue is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals and Oakland Athletics and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. Kaʻaihue went to Iolani School in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Below is a partial list of minor league baseball players in the Kansas City Royals system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheslor Cuthbert</span> Nicaraguan baseball player (born 1992)

Cheslor Jesly Cuthbert is a Nicaraguan professional baseball third baseman for the Samanes de Aragua of the Venezuelan Major League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hunter Dozier</span> American baseball player (born 1991)

Hunter William Dozier is an American professional baseball third baseman in the Los Angeles Angels organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals. The Royals selected Dozier eighth overall in the first round of the 2013 MLB draft after he played college baseball at Stephen F. Austin State University. He made his MLB debut in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whit Merrifield</span> American baseball player (born 1989)

Whitley David Merrifield is an American professional baseball second baseman and outfielder for Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays. Merrifield is a three-time All-Star and has led the American League in stolen bases three times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jake Bauers</span> American baseball player (born 1995)

Jakob Christopher Bauers is an American professional baseball first baseman, outfielder, and designated hitter for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Tampa Bay Rays, Cleveland Guardians, Seattle Mariners and the New York Yankees. He bats and throws left-handed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan O'Hearn</span> American baseball player (born 1993)

Ryan Patrick O'Hearn is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobby Witt Jr.</span> American baseball player (born 2000)

Robert Andrew Witt Jr. is an American professional baseball shortstop for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was selected second overall by the Royals in the 2019 MLB draft and made his MLB debut in 2022.

Hagen Jarrell Danner is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samad Taylor</span> American baseball player (born 1998)

Samad Jahad Taylor is an American professional baseball second baseman and outfielder for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MJ Melendez</span> Puerto Rican baseball player (born 1998)

Mervyl Samuel Melendez Jr. is an American professional baseball catcher and right fielder for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drew Waters</span> American baseball player (born 1998)

Andrew David Waters is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Schwindel</span> American baseball player (born 1992)

Frank J. Schwindel, nicknamed "Frank The Tank", is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He previously played in Major League Baseball for the Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, and Chicago Cubs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sebastian Rivero</span> Venezuelan baseball player (born 1998)

Sebastian Rivero is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher in the Atlanta Braves organization. Rivero signed with the Kansas City Royals as an international free agent in 2013 and made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with them in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emmanuel Rivera</span> Puerto Rican baseball player (born 1996)

Emmanuel Miguel Rivera is a Puerto Rican professional baseball third baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2021 with the Kansas City Royals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Massey</span> American baseball player (born 1998)

Michael Massey is an American professional baseball second baseman for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maikel García</span> Venezuelan baseball player (born 2000)

Maikel Jose García is a Venezuelan professional baseball shortstop and third baseman for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.

References

  1. ↑ "To be Nick Pratto". Goldcountrymedia.com. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  2. ↑ "California stuns Japan to claim Little League title". ESPN. August 28, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Pratto, Danner savor their gold-medal adventure". Orange County Register . September 11, 2015.
  4. ↑ Sondheimer, Eric (June 10, 2015). "Baseball: Pitcher Nick Pratto is leaving Mater Dei for Huntington Beach". Los Angeles Times .
  5. ↑ "Whicker: 'Nickenhagen' is a 1–2 punch for Huntington Beach baseball team". Los Angeles Daily News . April 18, 2017.
  6. ↑ Sondheimer, Eric (April 16, 2017). "Hagen Danner, Nick Pratto continue to deliver in pressure situations". Los Angeles Times .
  7. ↑ "Huntington Beach's Danner, Pratto share Sunset League MVP award". Los Angeles Times . June 22, 2017.
  8. ↑ Sondheimer, Eric (August 30, 2013). "Baseball: Freshman pitcher Nick Pratto commits to USC". Los Angeles Times .
  9. ↑ "MLB.com 2017 Prospect Watch". Major League Baseball.
  10. ↑ "Royals tab first baseman Pratto with top pick". MLB.com. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Huntington Beach's Pratto thrills the home fans by being drafted No. 14 overall". June 13, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Royals agree with 1st-round pick Nick Pratto at $3.45M". USA Today. June 19, 2017. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Nick Pratto Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Q&A: Prospect Pratto on growth spurt, pro ball". MLB.com .
  15. ↑ "Kansas City Royals". Kansascity.com.
  16. ↑ "Royals prospect Nick Pratto embraces offseason opportunity to grow, learn from 'horrific' season". Theathletic.com.
  17. ↑ "2020 Minor League Season Canceled". mlbtraderumors.com.
  18. ↑ "Naturals roommates shine bright in Northwest Arkansas". June 10, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Futures Game rosters are STACKED". MLB.com .
  20. ↑ "Royals promote Bobby Witt Jr., Nick Pratto to AAA". KSHB. July 19, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Kansas City Royals" . kansascity.com. December 4, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Princely trio of sluggers ready to become Royals".
  23. ↑ Rogers, Anne (November 12, 2021). "Pratto, Massey win MiLB Gold Gloves". MLB.com . Major League Baseball . Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Royals' Nick Pratto: Rewarded with 40-man roster spot".
  25. ↑ "Kansas City Royals" . kansascity.com. December 4, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  26. ↑ "Greinke comes full circle as Royals' veteran presence". MLB.com .
  27. ↑ "Nick Pratto's first career homer | 07/17/2022". MLB.com .
  28. ↑ "Pratto's walk-off home run (2) | 08/06/2022". MLB.com .
  29. ↑ "Royals' Nick Pratto: Sent down to Triple-A". CBS Sports. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Nick Pratto, Drew Waters, Austin Nola assigned to minors". royalsreview.com. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.