Nick Pratto

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] He 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 off 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] On June 11, Pratto made his only appearance for the Royals in 2024, pitching in relief against the New York Yankees. He pitched a scoreless ninth inning, striking out Jahmai Jones.^[31] He was optioned back to Omaha on June 14.^[13] Pratto played in 115 Triple-A games in 2024, batting .242 with 16 home runs.

On March 23, 2025, Pratto was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple-A Omaha.^[32] He made 114 appearances for the Storm Chasers, slashing .196/.289/.331 with nine home runs, 42 RBI, and eight stolen bases. Pratto elected free agency following the season on November 6.^[33]

On January 30, 2026, Pratto signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers.^[34]

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