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Here are some pictures of 12-year-old Nick Pratto during the 2011 Little League World Series because why not

The Royals’ 2017 first round draft pick is also a Little League Champion

By Matthew LaMar
2011 Little League Baseball World Series
Nick Pratto #25 of the West team from Huntington Beach, California celebrates after driving in the winning run to defeat the Japan team from Hamamatsu City, Japan 2-1 to win the Little League World Series championship game on August 28, 2011 in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images

At some point earlier in the year, I went to look at our gallery of images for a photo of Kansas City Royals first base prospect Nick Pratto. Royals Review has access to both USA Today Images and Getty Images, and hundreds of thousands of baseball photos are at our fingertips.

But for some reason not a single USA Today or Getty photographer had snapped and uploaded a picture of Pratto to the database. I was miffed. I chose a different player who did have a picture. But I was still miffed.

Well, I guess I’m not being totally honest. There were a dozen or so pictures of Pratto. It’s just...well, they were from 2011, just before Pratto became a teenager. You see, Pratto participated in the Little League World Series, his team from California winning the championship.

Here are the player introductions. Note Pratto’s favorite player, which is a good one.

Anyway, this isn’t huge news among Royals fans, but I thought that you all would like to see some pictures from then, because why not. Everyone loves pictures of famous people when they were tiny. That is 82% of the reason why people watch What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.

Pratto isn’t the only draftee or big league player to participate in the Little League World Series, but he’s one of the more recent, and so there are some really high-quality pics here. So here you go. Half a dozen pictures of tiny Pratto apropos of nothing.

THE CHILDREN ARE EXCITED

2011 Little League Baseball World Series
SOUTH WILLAMSPORT, PA - AUGUST 28: Nick Pratto #25 of the West team from Huntington Beach, California celebrates after driving in the winning run to defeat the Japan team from Hamamatsu City, Japan 2-1 to win the Little League World Series championship game on August 28, 2011 in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images

Almost...

2011 Little League Baseball World Series
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, PA - AUGUST 28: Ryota Matsushita #2 of the Japan team from Hamamatsu City, Japan avoids the tag of first baseman Nick Pratto #25 of the West team from Huntington Beach, California for an infield single during the fourth inning of the Little League World Series championship game on August 28, 2011 in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The West team defeated the team from Japan 2-1.
Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images

Why yes, I did indeed do an epic baseball thing

2011 Little League Baseball World Series
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, PA - AUGUST 28: Nick Pratto #25 of the West team from Huntington Beach, California celebrates after driving in the winning run to defeat the Japan team from Hamamatsu City, Japan 2-1 to win the Little League Wolrd Series championship game on August 28, 2011 in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images

Ya’ll didn’t know that I could pitch, too?

2011 Little League Baseball World Series
SOUTH WILLAMSPORT, PA - AUGUST 27: Pitcher Nick Pratto #25 of the West team from Huntington Beach, California throws to a batter from the Northwest team from Billings, Montana during the first inning of the U.S. Championsip game of the 2011 Little League World Series on August 27, 2011 in South Willamsport, Pennsylvania.
Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images

Chant it with me: R-B-I! R-B-I!

2011 Little League Baseball World Series
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, PA - AUGUST 28: Nick Pratto #25 of the West team from Huntington Beach, California drives in the winning run against the Japan team from Hamamatsu City, Japan for a 2-1 win in the Little League World Series championship game on August 28, 2011 in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images

And here it is: Nick Pratto’s winning hit. Note the 0-9 with runners in scoring position. Looks like the 2011 California little league team is already in peak 2018 Royals form.

Here’s hoping Pratto gets some more recent pictures.

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