3 Royals Players Who Won’t Be on the Roster Next Year

Nick Pratto, 1B

A former first-round draft pick from 2017, Pratto was expected to be a franchise cornerstone for the Royals’ new competitive core. He was drafted for his strong bat and power, but the offense just hasn’t been there.

In just 299 at-bats, Pratto has 112 strikeouts to just 29 walks. He’s hit only seven home runs while hitting just .238, so he’s been a sort of black hole in the lineup when he’s played.

Pratto still has a great deal of potential, but it’s best for all parties if he gets the opportunity to reach it elsewhere. Given his pedigree, Kansas City could still theoretically fetch a decent haul for the first baseman, helping jumpstart the rebuild while giving Pratto a change of scenery.

Hitting sub-.200 with a nearly 41% strikeout rate won’t cut it. More time in the minors may behoove Pratto to help him work on his plate discipline, and Kansas City has a number of infielders they could shift around to help cover first.

In any case, Pratto should not be on the major league team next year. Either the Royals should send him back to the minors to improve his offense or they should see what teams may be interested in helping Pratto finally break through.