Royals’ first base battle





Kansas City last season had many players play at first base including Carlos Santana, Ryan O'Hearn, Vinny Pasquantino, Hunter Dozier, and Nick Pratto. 
Santana got most of the reps at the position. While with the Royals, Santana posted a batting average below .220 in one and a half seasons with Kansas City. The team signed the veteran first baseman to a two year deal worth $17.5 million in 2021 in hopes he would be a reliable first baseman. In some ways he provided that for the team, but in other ways he didn't. Santana while with Kansas City provided a good glove at the position, but his offense didn't match his defensive skills. Following the end of his time in Kansas City, the team traded him to Seattle allowing the young first basemen in Nick Pratto and Vinnie Pasquantino to get some big league reps at the position. 

Vinnie Pasquantino 

Following the departure of Santana, the Royals gave first basemen Nick Pratto and Vinnie Pasquantino playing time at first base. Heading into 2023, both players will have the opportunity to play the position everyday without a veteran player standing in their way. Pasquantino played in 72 games for the boys in blue. Pasquantino's 72 games for the Royals wasn't too shabby as the 25-year old posted a batting average of .295 with 10 home runs and 26 runs batted in. Pasquantino proved he has plenty of pop in his bat. While with the Storm Chasers (AAA), he posted a .277 batting average with 18 home runs and 70 runs batted in. Pasquantino has shown time and time again that he can hit in the big leagues, but I am not sure if he can handle first base on a regular basis for a big league team. The left hander was ranked in the top 100 prospects list at number 98 according to www.justbaseball.com. Pasquantino heading into next season might have a slight advantage over Pratto and Dozier for the first base job thanks to his bat; however, his lack of speed and defensive struggles could cost him the job and put him at designated hitter for the team. 

Nick Pratto 

Kansas City has many up and coming stars already in the big leagues or are close to reaching the majors, and Pratto is definitely one of them. While with Kansas City last season, the left handed hitter appeared in 49 games and stepped up to the plate 182 times. Unfortunately, Pratto struggled in the 49 games played last season; but there were many good things the first basemen did in the big leagues. Pratto’s top line numbers at the plate were shocking. According to royalsreview.com: " Pratto struck out 36.3% of the time and 44.2% of the time against left-handed pitchers, and his triple slash of .184/.271/.386 led to a wRC+ of 82. Per Fangraphs’ version of WAR, Pratto was below replacement level." Unfortunately, Pratto's poor rookie campaign has made many Royals fans doubt Pratto is part of the club's future, but I am not one of them. During the 2022 season, the first baseman was brought up in trade rumors, but obviously the team held onto the young first baseman. According to Royals Review, a few first basemen have had bounce back sophomore years in the majors including former Royal Kendrys Morales, Adrian Gonzalez (Rangers) and Chris Davis (Rangers). 
Mentioned earlier in the article, the team could have flopped Pratto at the trade deadline but held onto him. Pratto heading into the 2023 season will have plenty of pressure on him with Pasquantino having the edge over him for the first base job, but he still has the opportunity to take the job away from Pasquantino. The Royals prospect has one thing that Pasquantino doesn't, speed. Pratto's speed isn't electric, but he certainly has more than Pasquantino. Pratto's speed has shown that he can be an excellent defensive first baseman. While in the team's minor league system, Pratto won a gold glove as a member of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals and the Omaha Storm Chasers. According to milb.com: " In 113 total games between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha, Pratto recorded 813 putouts and 64 assists in 879 total chances, committing just two errors in 955.2 innings at first base for a .998 fielding percentage." However, a minor league gold glove is a lot different from playing defense in the big leagues. Spring Training for the Royals first baseman Nick Pratto will be very important for his development as a potential everyday big leaguer and his future with the Royals. 

Hunter Dozier 

Dozier has played first base a few times in his career with the Royals; however, it's unlikely to see him play the position in 2023, but don't rule out the idea completely. Royals General Manager J.J Picollo told CBS Sports: " We want Dozier to get at-bats," Picollo said. "That's the best place for him to play." Last season, Dozier struggled at the plate with a batting average of .236 with 12 home runs and 41 runs batted in. Dozier definitely has the most big league experience of the three first base candidates but is least likely to play the position. This upcoming spring training will definitely be an exciting one to watch as the young guys compete for spots on the big league roster including first base.




















































































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