Here's why Pratto is finding success (and power) at the plate 

KANSAS CITY -- Nick Pratto has played in 12 games since he returned from Triple-A Omaha on April 28. The Royals first baseman has hit safely in eight of them, has recorded multiple RBIs in five of them and is hitting .400 (16-for-40) with five extra-base hits and 12 RBIs.

In that small sample size, the Royals are seeing more of the hitter they envisioned anchoring their lineup as he chases less, swings at better pitches and smokes balls all over the field.

“He works a lot before the game, every day,” catcher Salvador Perez said. “And we expect him to do that. He’s in a good place right now.”

Pratto went 2-for-4 with a home run in the Royals’ 9-1 rout over the White Sox on Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium. He was one of three to homer -- joining Michael Massey and Edward Olivares -- as Kansas City made it nine consecutive games with a home run, the longest active streak in the Majors right now and the club’s longest streak since a 10-game run from Aug. 3-12, 2022.

The Royals have won three of their last four games and go for a series win on Thursday afternoon against the White Sox -- and much of the success in this past week has been because of the offense. After starting slow, the Royals have scored the most runs (67) in the American League in the past 12 days.

There’s more to the Royals’ offensive outburst than adding one hitter into the mix, but having Pratto -- a disciplined power hitter -- swinging well does change the look and feel of the lineup.

“He’s hit everywhere from four to seven since he’s been here,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “He really lengthens out the lineup. And it changed, for me a little bit, to break up free-swingers and guys that have a little bit more plate discipline. I think that was a big thing for us. You don’t get free-swinger, free-swinger, free-swinger in a row. If they happen to expand on that given night, those can be quick outs.

“You put somebody in the middle, that’s a different type of challenge for an opposing pitcher. They can’t get quite into, ‘All right, I can do the same thing to two or three guys in a row.’”

Pratto hit a 103.7 mph single in the first inning as part of the Royals’ four-run inning against White Sox starter Lance Lynn, who threw 37 pitches in the inning. That built a lead for Royals starter Brad Keller, who allowed one run in five innings. Keller, who has struggled with command recently, allowed four walks Wednesday night but limited the damage, including the first inning, when he got a key double play and strikeout to strand the two walks he allowed to start the game.

After that second walk, Perez -- who celebrated his 33rd birthday Wednesday and went 3-for-5 with two doubles -- called time out to go calm Keller down on the mound.

“Definitely need reminders like Sal a lot to come out there and tell me,” Keller said. “Got caught up in the moment a little bit. The first two batters got really quick, and I felt like I was going fast and couldn’t quite make the adjustments.”

The Royals' offense kept pouring it on. In the fifth, an inning after Massey crushed his first homer of the year, Pratto launched a fastball 374 feet into right field for his second home run of the year.

“It’s just seeing the ball well,” Pratto said. “It’s stuff I work on. I feel like I have more of a chance to mishit balls if I’m looking for something. If I’m really honing in on something, there’s less of a chance for me to make contact.”

Pratto has always had a good eye, but the Royals believed that he was actually being too selective last year and entering the start of 2023. So his work in Triple-A at the beginning of the season targeted swing decisions and hunting a pitch he could drive. The last few days he spent in Omaha were the best he felt in his approach.

“And then I just felt really comfortable letting it loose,” Pratto said. “So I feel like I got up here at the right time.”

That has continued in Kansas City. Pratto’s chase rate has decreased to 22.4% this season, while his hard-hit rate is at 44.4%. His rise has mirrored the Royals’ offensive turnaround.

“The communication has been great, just understanding where I’m at right now and what I want to work on,” Pratto said. “Having everybody in my corner has made it a good transition.”