Nick Pratto’s stay with the Kansas City Royals extended by injury to Edward Olivares

Nick Pratto’s first taste of the major leagues will extend at least a little bit longer. The Kansas City Royals recalled the first baseman and inserted him into the starting lineup on Friday, less than a week after he’d been optioned back to the minors following the series in Toronto.

Pratto, who traveled with the club to KC from Toronto, technically rejoined the club (on paper) when outfielder Edward Olivares went on the 10-day injured list with a left quad strain prior to Friday’s series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays at Kauffman Stadium.

Olivares injured his leg while running to first base in the ninth inning of Sunday’s game in Toronto.

Pratto, 23, made his major-league debut in Toronto and played in all four games of that series. A former first-round draft pick (No. 14, 2017), Pratto went 4 for 14 and hit his first home run in the majors during that road trip.

Baseball America ranked Pratto the 60th-best prospect in the minors, while MLBPipeline.com ranks him 69th. Pratto had been slated to play in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles prior to being promoted to the majors.

A Minor League Baseball Gold Glove winner at first base, Pratto has received rave reviews from Royals manager Mike Matheny for his defense.

“This guy is going to walk in and when he gets an opportunity to play every day, it will be hard not to give him a Gold Glove,” Matheny said after seeing Pratto play the first three games in Toronto. “It’s that good, and he’s taking some good at-bats now too.”

Pratto hit his first home run later that day.

Olivares has now gone on the IL twice this season with quadriceps strains. He was on the IL from May 9 through June 24 with a right quad strain.

In 36 games this season, Olivares has batted .303 with a .358 on-base percentage and a .434 slugging percentage.