Former Florida slugger Jac Caglianone blasts first Major League home run

Following his home run trot, Jac Caglianone was met in the dugout by his teammates … who turned their backs on him and gave him the silent treatment. After a brief minute or two, they broke the pose and congratulated the rookie. His shot had given the Kansas City Royals an early 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning.

For Caglianone, the shot was just a matter of time. In fact, he very nearly homered on the first at-bat of his big-league career. Instead, he was robbed by an outstanding defensive play in center field a little short of the track.

And while there had been individual moments for Caglianone over the last few weeks, he hadn’t had that signature one just yet.

As of Thursday’s game against the Rangers, Jac Caglianone had played in 14 games and racked up 52 at-bats. He had only 11 hits for a .212 batting average. Two of those hits had gone for doubles. And then the one home run, of course.

There have been signs, though. In his sixth game in the majors, a game against the Chicago White Sox, Caglianone burst onto the scene in a major way. He went 4-for-4 at the plate. What’s crazier is what that feat meant.

Caglianone became only the second Kansas City player to post a four-hit contest in his first six MLB games. The other? Bo Jackson did it on Sept. 11, 1986. That’s quite the lofty company to be keeping.

Given his shot on Thursday, you can bet Jac Caglianone is only just starting to get warmed up in the majors. And that’s a scary prospect for opposing hitters.