Kansas City Royals option three, including red-hot Nick Pratto, to Triple-A Omaha
The Kansas City Royals continued to trim their roster on Friday. The Royals optioned Austin Nola, Nick Pratto and Drew Waters to Triple-A Omaha.
KC is now down to 49 players in major-league camp. Both Pratto and Waters were battling for the final roster spot this spring. The competition also included outfielder Dairon Blanco and infielder Nick Loftin.
“They’re difficult decisions,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “But, you know, we talked about it pretty consistently, the internal level of competition.”
Pratto, 25, shined in Cactus League play. He recorded a .421 batting average with four home runs and 13 RBIs in 38 at-bats. Additionally, he rebounded from a left groin injury that sidelined him for six weeks last season.
Pratto will get a chance for regular at-bats with the Omaha Storm Chasers. He recently refined his swing this offseason. Pratto showed an aggressive approach at the plate and began driving the baseball to all fields.
“I’m me again,” Pratto said earlier this spring. “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.”
Should Pratto continue to surge, he could be among the first players recalled back to Kansas City this season.
“Frankly you know, Vinnie (Pasquantino) is going to play first (base) most of the time,” Quatraro said. “Nick had a phenomenal spring. It was just a little bit of a logjam. He can do other things in playing the outfield. But right now, that opportunity is not there. He did everything he could possibly do this spring. We just need him to continue that in Omaha.”
Waters, 25, recorded a .276 batting average in 29 at-bats. There were highlight moments, such as his solo homer in the spring opener against the Texas Rangers, but Waters was inconsistent at the plate.
In Cactus League play, Waters had 12 strikeouts and walked three times. He also produced a .792 OPS (on-base plus slugging).
Waters heads to Triple-A Omaha with a chance to play every day. The Royals value his skill-set and could recall him if the situation arises this season.
“We really think Drew can be a dynamic player offensively, defensively and on the bases,” Quatraro said. “Just have to get him to refine his game and continue to get those consistent at-bats.”
Nola, 34, was a veteran presence in the clubhouse. He had experience with newcomers Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha from their time with the San Diego Padres.
The Royals acquired Nola early in camp. He was released by the Milwaukee Brewers and added catching depth this spring. Nola played in 12 games and produced five hits in 25 at-bats with the team.
Royals captain Salvador Perez and Freddy Fermin remain as the Royals top catchers. Perez is set to handle the bulk of the games with Fermin operating in a backup role. Perez could also see time at first base.
The Royals conclude Cactus League play on Saturday. The organization still must decide on the final roster spots.
The final bench candidates are Blanco and Loftin. Blanco brings a speed element that is valuable in late innings. Loftin is a versatile infielder and can play multiple positions.
The Royals must also decide on their bullpen.
Rule 5 Draft pick Matt Sauer is a front-runner for the final spot. Sauer must remain on the 26-man roster for the entire season or be offered back to the New York Yankees for $50,000, per MLB rules. Non-roster invitee Sam Long is also in the mix after a strong spring.
“We have tough decisions to make, and they’re not easy right,” Quatraro said. “And they definitely are not taken lightly because it’s someone’s career. It’s personal to them. But we also have the responsibility of making the decision we think is best for the 26-man roster at the moment, and that’s what we have done.”
This story was originally published March 22, 2024 at 3:50 PM.
