Anthony Prato
Position: IF
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 186 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 05/11/1998
Drafted: 7th Round, 463rd overall, 2019 (Twins)
How Acquired: Minor League Free Agent
College: University of Connecticut
Bonus: $274,800
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Minor League Free Agency: 2026
Options Left: 3
Overview
The Twins drafted Prato in the 7th round out of college on the strength of good contact and on-base skills. He has some gap power. He hit over .300 every year in college and, in his last year, drew 40 walks against 24 strikeouts. A shortstop in college, Prato hasn’t played there a great deal as a pro, spending much more time at second and third, and also in left. He appears to be very reliable at second, but has had a lot of error problems at third. His speed is reasonably good. Prato seemed to stall out in AAA with Minnesota and was never added to the 40-man roster. The Twins released him late in the 2025 season and the Pirates signed him to a minor league deal after promoting two infielders from Indianapolis.
2019-22
Prato gradually reached AA, interrupted by inactivity during the pandemic season and by an injury that cost him much of the 2021 season. After putting up a .733 OPS in advanced rookie ball in 2019, he played briefly at the two class A levels in 2021, batting .260 with little power. The Twins sent him back to high A in 2022 for a third of the season and he showed some power while putting up an .835 OPS. He continued hitting after a promotion to AA, with a line of 294/403/419. The improved power evidently came at the cost of a sharp increase in strikeouts, as he fanned in 23% of his plate appearances, but he also had a good walk rate.
2023-25
Prato spent the first third of the 2023 season in AA and didn’t hit at all, putting up a .553 OPS. The Twins promoted him anyway and he got hot in AAA, batting 302/452/539 with ten home runs. That didn’t get him on the roster or selected in the Rule 5 draft, though, and in 2024 he spent the season in AAA and dropped off sharply, to 228/370/350. The Twins sent him back to AAA in 2025 and, despite getting his strikeout rate down to 17%, his hitting picked up only a little, to 259/396/360. He continued to draw walks at a good rate throughout his time in AAA. Minnesota released Prato in late August and the Pirates signed him to a minor league deal a week later. He played in 13 games for Indianapolis, mostly at second but also pitching twice. He hit 156/372/156.
Stats
Transactions
June 4, 2019: Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 7th round, 209th overall pick; signed on June 17.
August 25, 2025: Released by the Minnesota Twins.
September 2, 2025: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.