Texas Rangers Sign Former Top Prospect to Minor League Deal

Nick Pratto, once a top-50 MLB prospect, joins the Rangers organization on a minor league contract.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 5:23pm

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The Texas Rangers have signed former Kansas City Royals first-round draft pick Nick Pratto to a minor league contract. Pratto, a left-handed hitting first baseman/outfielder, was once considered a top-50 prospect in baseball but has struggled at the Triple-A level the past two seasons.

Why it matters

The signing of Pratto represents a low-risk, high-upside move for the Rangers as they look to bolster their minor league depth and potentially uncover a hidden gem. Pratto's prospect pedigree and past success at the Double-A level suggest he still has untapped potential that the Rangers hope to unlock.

The details

Pratto, 27, was the 14th overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft out of high school. After a breakout 2021 season that saw him hit 36 home runs across Double-A and Triple-A, he made his MLB debut with the Royals in 2022 but struggled, batting .216 with a .659 OPS. The deal with the Rangers does not include an invitation to major league spring training, but Pratto will likely get opportunities to showcase his skills in early exhibition games.

  • Pratto was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 1st round (14th overall) of the 2017 MLB Draft.
  • In 2021, Pratto hit 36 home runs in a season split between Double-A and Triple-A.
  • Pratto made his MLB debut with the Royals in 2022 and played 144 games over the 2022-23 seasons.

The players

Nick Pratto

A former first-round draft pick by the Kansas City Royals, Pratto was once considered a top-50 prospect in baseball. The left-handed hitting first baseman/outfielder has struggled at the Triple-A level the past two seasons but still has upside that the Rangers hope to unlock.

Texas Rangers

The professional baseball team based in Arlington, Texas that competes in Major League Baseball's American League West division.

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What’s next

Pratto will likely get opportunities to showcase his skills in early spring training games with the Rangers, as the team looks to see if he can regain the form that made him a top prospect just a few years ago.

The takeaway

The Rangers' signing of Nick Pratto represents a low-risk, high-upside move as the team looks to bolster its minor league depth and potentially uncover a hidden gem. Pratto's prospect pedigree and past success suggest he still has untapped potential, and the Rangers will be hoping to help him rediscover that form.