Nick Pratto was as soon as seen by some because the inheritor obvious to Eric Hosmer for the Kansas Metropolis Royals. He was taken with the 14th total decide within the 2017 MLB Draft, forgoing a dedication to USC and signing for $3.45 million. It’s been a protracted highway for Pratto since then. He (together with MJ Melendez) struggled immensely for the Excessive-A Wilmington Blue Rocks and, on the time, it seemed like his prospect days had been behind him.

Then, behind Alec Zumwalt and Drew Saylor’s steering, Pratto turned issues round in 2021. He had a .974 OPS in Double-A and a 1.001 OPS in Triple-A. It seemed like Pratto had joined a core of the long run for the Royals, alongside Bobby Witt Jr. and MJ Melendez. FanGraphs ranked Pratto because the workforce’s primary prospect in 2022 — and the thirty ninth total prospect in baseball.

So far, nonetheless, inconsistency has plagued Pratto. He’s been unable to constantly contribute on the plate and hasn’t carried out sufficient to carve a job for himself within the main leagues. Witt and Melendez had been promoted in 2022, leaving Pratto behind. Pratto would ultimately debut final season however struggled. These struggles led him to begin this season once more with the Omaha Storm Chasers.

Nick Pratto’s 2023 season was a story of two halves

The primary half of the season was a lot better than the second for Pratto. He spent the primary month of the season with Omaha (apart from a brief sequence in Toronto). His common was low and the stat sheet didn’t look distinctive, however different metrics corresponding to hard-hit price made it look as if Pratto had improved his course of on the plate. He was hanging out rather less as effectively.

The Royals promoted Pratto on April 28. From then till the top of Might, he slashed .306/.414/.449, however once more the strikeouts loomed heavy overhead at 31.6%. He cooled some in June — by the All-Star Break he had a .719 OPS — however the enchancment appeared to be sticking on the plate. If the season had ended there, I feel most people could be fairly blissful total with Pratto’s 2023 marketing campaign. He didn’t appear to be an All-Star by any means, however you would see a situation the place that model of Nick Pratto may affect the lineup in optimistic methods. Seasons don’t finish in July, nonetheless.

The second half was a battle for Pratto. Over the primary 13 video games after the All-Star Break, he slashed .189/.286/.297. It didn’t look fairly, and to make issues worse he ended up on the injured listing with a groin damage in late July. Pratto was formally positioned on the Injured Checklist on July 28 and would stay out of sport motion till he was despatched on a rehab project to Triple-A Omaha on August 17. A minor setback on August 25 delayed that rehab project, however he was again in motion a number of days later.

He did ultimately make his method again to the key leagues in early September however the outcomes once more weren’t a lot to put in writing house about. In all, he completed his season with a 79 wRC+, value a depressing -0.6 fWAR, and struggling to seek out his place as soon as once more in a roster needy for expertise. He ranked within the sixth percentile for whiff price and 18th percentile for common exit velocity. It simply wasn’t a fantastic yr for the now 25-year-old.

Wanting forward, it’s laborious to see the place Pratto suits in. Vinnie Pasquantino will likely be again by Spring Coaching, and despite the fact that the lineup may use assist from its outfielders, Pratto’s bat doesn’t appear to be it should provide a lot solace. MJ Melendez and Nelson Velazquez did far more this season to assert a job subsequent season, which suggests Pratto might be unnoticed within the chilly as soon as once more.

He has an alternative choice remaining, nonetheless, that means that 2024 may see Pratto get an opportunity in Spring Coaching however find yourself in Omaha but once more if he can not discover enhancements on the plate. If that involves fruition, it could seemingly be a last-chance marketing campaign for Pratto earlier than he turns into a possible roster casualty post-2024. All Royals followers agree that seeing the previous high prospect put all of it collectively could be a most welcome growth. It simply doesn’t seem to be one thing that you need to guess on proper now.