First baseman Nick Pratto, outfielder Drew Waters, and catcher Austin Nola have all been assigned to minor league camp, according to the Royals.
Nelson Velazquez, Dairon Blanco, and Nick Loftin appear to have two spaces remaining, though any one of the three might make it if Michael Massey is placed on the Injured List at the start of the season.
Over the past two seasons, Pratto has not produced much at the major league level, batting.216/.295/.364 in 527 plate appearances with a 38.7% strikeout rate. With a more aggressive approach, though, he was drawing attention in camp by hitting.421 with four home runs in 42 plate appearances and a 19% strikeout rate. As Vinnie Pasquantino was expected to make his way back from an injury at first base, there didn’t seem to be many chances for
Assigned to minors are Nick Pratto, Drew Waters, and Austin Nola.
Waters had a strong showing in 32 games in 2022, but in 98 games last year, he only managed to hit.228/.300/.377 in an extended look. Waters, a switch-hitter who can play all three outfield spots, may fit in well as a backup outfielder, but the Royals might rather that the 25-year-old continue to grow as a player by seeing him play frequently. With 12 strikeouts in 32 plate appearances in spring, Waters’s stats were.276/.344/.448.
Nola still has an option year left on his MLB contract, which he signed this off-season. He has been in MLB for five years, but in 52 games with the Padres last season, he only hit.146. With Salvador Perez likely to start and Freddy Fermin as the backup, he gives the Royals depth at catcher.
The Royals are expected to carry Pasquantino, Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel Garcia, MJ Melendez, Kyle Isbel, Hunter Renfroe, Garrett Hampson, and Adam Frazier in addition to those two catchers. Among the position players, three more positions are available. Due to a back ailment, Michael Massey has been missing from baseball activities. After joining the Royals last season, Velázquez hit 17 home runs in 53 games, but his defense isn’t very strong.
