Royals Banking Too Heavily On 22-Year-Old Sluggers To Drive Offense

Barring a last-minute change, it would seem that Caglianone would project as the Royals' everyday right fielder against right-handed pitching, and Jensen would be on the opening day roster after only appearing in 20 games as a rookie last year.

Caglianone slashed .157/.237/.295 in his 62 games last year after sprinting through the minor-leagues as a 2024 first-round draft pick. Jensen, meanwhile, had an early taste of success, putting up a .941 OPS in 69 plate appearances.

Jensen's situation is unique, because he's a catcher, and will have to sit behind future Royals Hall of Famer Salvador Perez about half the time this year. Sure, he might get some designated hitter at-bats too, but it's tough to produce offensively without everyday reps, and a backup catcher also typically is counted upon to provide excellent defense and game-calling.

In some ways, Caglianone might be more prepared to step into the role than Jensen, despite the obvious disparity in their small-sample stats last year. Rookies often need to fail a bit before they can sustain their success, and while the league clearly had Caglianone's number from the jump, it will inevitably adjust to Jensen as well.

Either way, the Royals are asking both to be real contributors when they've yet to prove they can do so. That's not an ideal situation to put youngsters in on a team with hopes of contending for a playoff bid, but that's the way the cards have fallen for the Royals on the hot stove.