‘I’m me again’: Royals first baseman Nick Pratto relishes healthy spring training
Kansas City Royals first baseman Nick Pratto is fighting for a roster spot this spring.
Pratto, 25, is off to a good start. He’s batting .400, with 10 hits, two home runs and nine RBIs in nine spring training games.
He also knows there is stiff competition to make the Royals’ 26-man roster, so he is focused on staying healthy and letting his play vouch for him.
“Right now, I just want to play my brand of baseball,” Pratto said. “Obviously, I want to make the team and help them out.
“But step one is putting myself in a good spot to compete throughout the year, because I know if I do that, the stuff is going to translate. Doesn’t matter where I am.”
Pratto struggled last season. He recorded a .660 OPS (on-base plus slugging) and struck out 138 times in 306 at-bats. Additionally, Pratto posted a 40.0 strikeout percentage juxtaposed to a 8.4 walk percentage.
Injuries led to his uneven 2023 campaign. Pratto dealt with a left groin injury that sidelined him for six weeks. He returned last September but never regained his form.
In his final 17 games, Pratto struck out 26 times in 45 at-bats.
“I had a way too long of time where I was bringing stuff that wasn’t the brand of baseball that I’m used to,” he said. “That was tough for me. So yeah, just learning to deal with failure, learning to compete when you’re not your best, learning to be a good teammate. (Also,) learning to just grind and climb back. That’s what this game is about.”
Pratto admitted he shrunk the strike zone while battling through his injury. He couldn’t fully cover all of home plate. It wasn’t a good feeling, but it was the best he could manage.
“I was hitting without a backside, which is tough in the big leagues,” Pratto said. “I did what I could with it and felt like I competed.”
Pratto regained his health this offseason. He started to move better and ramped up his training regimen ahead of spring training. He can utilize the entire strike zone again and spray the baseball around the field.
And the Royals have noticed.
“He’s had a really good approach,” KC manager Matt Quatraro said. “You know, mentally, I think he has been in a good spot. First and foremost, he is healthy. He feels confident in his body and being in the right spots.”
The Royals added veteran depth this offseason by signing utilityman Garrett Hampson and infielder Adam Frazier. Both are expected to make the major-league team out of camp. Backup catcher Freddy Fermin will likely occupy another roster spot.
The final bench spot could go to any number of players — Pratto is competing with the likes of Drew Waters, Dairon Blanco and Nick Loftin. The Royals must decide which player has shown enough to start the 2024 season with the big club.
Pratto, selected 14th overall in the 2017 MLB Draft, brims with offensive potential. In 2021, he totaled 36 home runs and 98 RBIs across two minor league levels.
He made his MLB debut in 2022 and has played in 144 career games. It’s a relatively small sample size at the big-league level, but Pratto believes he is close to putting it all together once more.
“I’m me again,” he said. “It’s not something where I’m comparing myself to somewhere I was in the past because of all the changes and things that happened. I’m just glad I made adjustments and feel like I’m in a good spot.”
Pratto went 1-for-3 against the San Francisco Giants on Monday as the Royals fell 12-9 at Surprise Stadium.
“He’s put his best foot forward,” Quatraro said. “We still have a few weeks left, you know, and we will be able to make a decision soon. He has done everything he can do.”
