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Kansas City Royals: Two more top prospects getting closer to majors

By David Hill |
Kansas City Royals Bobby Witt Jr., rounds the bases on an error, inside the park home run, which was misplayed by Cincinnati Reds left fielder Errol Robinson in the eighth inning of the MLB Cactus League Spring Training game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Kansas City Royals at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Ariz., on Thursday, March 4, 2021. The Royals won 5-3 in a nine-inning game.Kansas City Royals At Cincinnati Reds Spring Training
Kansas City Royals Bobby Witt Jr., rounds the bases on an error, inside the park home run, which was misplayed by Cincinnati Reds left fielder Errol Robinson in the eighth inning of the MLB Cactus League Spring Training game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Kansas City Royals at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Ariz., on Thursday, March 4, 2021. The Royals won 5-3 in a nine-inning game.Kansas City Royals At Cincinnati Reds Spring Training

Any optimism around the Kansas City Royals‘ future involves their prospects. They are expected to have a strong homegrown rotation, filled with arms that were all drafted together. Bobby Witt Jr. is considered one of the top prospects in baseball, a five tool shortstop who has the potential to be the next true superstar in the Royals organization. While other prospects will need to step up, the future should be bright in Kansas City.

That future is getting even closer. Witt and Nick Pratto are moving one step closer to the majors, as the pair of prospects are set to be promoted to Triple-A.

Kansas City Royals future is getting closer

It is not a surprise that Witt is moving up to Triple-A. He appeared to be close to ready for the majors in spring training before being sent to Double-A to start the season. Witt had no trouble in Northwest Arkansas, posting a solid .292/.369/.568 batting line with 16 homers, nine doubles, and 14 steals in his 271 plate appearances.

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Pratto, however, is a complete shock. The 14th overall selection in the 2017 MLB Draft, Pratto had been a tremendous disappointment to this point in his career. His power had not developed, he had too many swing and miss issues, and just could not find any sustained success at the plate.

That changed this year. Pratto started to become the player that the Royals envisioned when they drafted him, a slick fielding first baseman with solid pop in the bat and surprising speed. He had produced a .279/.408/.586 batting line with 15 homers and 13 doubles in his 267 plate appearances, drawing 44 walks with 76 strikeouts.

If the Royals are going to contend again in the near future, they will need their prospects to lead the charge. This is not a team that will be shopping in the upper echelon of free agents; instead, they need to draft and develop those superstars. With Witt and Pratto one step closer to the majors, they certainly hope that the future will get there a lot sooner.

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The Kansas City Royals are moving Bobby Witt Jr. and Nick Pratto to Triple-A. Their top hitting prospects are a step closer to the majors.

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