Do the Royals believe in Pratto?

Nick Pratto had an incredible spring with the Royals, but Nelson Velázquez on the other hand struggled mightily. Kansas City is trimming the roster down as spring training is beginning to wrap up. Several players have opened some eyes of the team's coaching staff and the fans such as pitchers Tyler Duffey and Sam Long. I believe one of those two pitchers will make the opening day roster. However, a great spring training for Pratto wasn't enough to make the opening day roster; but I believe Pratto will be recalled at some point in the season to play first base or the outfield if needed. The 25-year old seems to have made some adjustments to his offensive approach. Last season, Pratto didn't play too well in 95 games. The former first round pick posted a  .232 batting average at the plate with 71 hits, 7 of those being home runs and 35 RBI's. Many fans seemed to have given up on the first baseman after last season. Pratto silenced the haters with an incredible spring showing. The first baseman played in 13 games and played like he wanted to snatch the starting job from Nelson Velázquez for the designated hitter spot. In 13 games played, the 25 year old smacked four home runs out of Surprise with 13 runs batted in, not to mention a stolen base. Who likely took Pratto's spot on the opening day roster, you may ask? Dairon Blanco or Nelson Velázquez, or maybe even both. The Royals decision to keep Blanco on the roster isn't shocking despite his lack of power in his bat. The speedy outfielder didn't have a bad spring, but should that keep Pratto from making the team? Of course not, if the Royals were managed a bit differently. The team's offense is likely to improve dramatically with the additions of Hunter Renfrone, who has plenty of pop in his bat and Adam Frazier who has decent pop as well. Pasquantino, as I mentioned earlier, is a lock for the roster; however he certainly has had a poor spring training. As spring training is coming to a close, the 26-year old has batted a total of 36 times with only one home run and eight RBI's. Despite only having one home run this spring, Pasquantino has a ton of power. The first baseman unfortunately struggles to stay on the field for a long period of time. Pasquantino has played in two big league seasons in Kansas City to this point. Pasquantino's two seasons with the Royals have been hampered by injuries playing in only 133 games. 
Last season, the first baseman landed on the injury list only twice but missed a total of 70 games with a trip to the ten day injured list and the 60 day injury list with shoulder injuries. Pasquantino's inability to stay healthy and a great showing this spring should have given a spot to Pratto on the opening day roster, but no. 
Manager Matt Quatraro, whether he would like to admit it or not, tried to defend the team's front office for Pratto's demotion: "We feel it’s best for them at this point in their career to go down and get consistent at-bats, especially early in the season,” manager Matt Quatraro said after the Royals’ 4-3 win over the White Sox at Camelback Ranch. “And all three of them we think, genuinely, are going to be a huge part of what we do in the future. But the timing right now, for various reasons, isn’t the right time.” 
J.J. Picollo had an excuse as well: "It’s more about the end of the year and what we found out throughout the course of the year, whether it’s in the Minors or Majors,” said the executive vice president of baseball operations. “There are certain guys that we need to see them in the Majors. But with the length of the season, you don’t have to jump to some of those decisions early on.” Picollo this offseason made several impressive free agent additions to improve the team; however, it seems he forgot about guys who had great springs that were homegrown talent in the organization like Pratto. 
Despite not making the roster out of spring training, Pratto will continue to tear it up in Omaha and force his way onto the big league roster this season in no time and help the Royals win games consistently. 





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