Jac Caglianone (14) with the Florida Gators in 2024. Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images

Top Royals prospect homers in fourth straight game

By Aaron Somers | Last updated May 27, 2025 10:08 AM ET

When the Kansas City Royals selected Jac Caglianone with the sixth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, there were few questions about his bat.

Caglianone starred at the University of Florida from 2022-24, slashing .355/.447/.760 and hitting 75 home runs across 165 games, which set the Gators' all-time home run record.

The 22-year-old began the 2025 season with the Royals' Double-A affiliate in Northwest Arkansas. Over 175 plate appearances through the team's first 38 games, Caglianone hit .322/.394/.553 with eight doubles and nine home runs. The hot start prompted a quick promotion to Triple-A Omaha, and Caglianone has only turned up the heat since.

Caglianone has only played six games with the Storm Chasers. He's homered in each of the last four. Including the two he hit on Sunday, that's five home runs and 10 RBI since the promotion.

A two-way player through his collegiate career, the Royals quickly decided to have Caglianone focus strictly on the offensive side of his game. However, with Vinnie Pasquantino at first base, the Royals have begun exploring how to get both of them in the lineup at once. Caglianone has been working out in right field for much of the last month. The position is likely his clearest path to regular playing time at the MLB level.

Kansas City's right fielders have produced little this season. Hunter Renfroe batted just .182/.241/.242 over 108 PA before being designated for assignment. Drew Waters, Mark Canha and Dairon Blanco have struggled to produce when given opportunities, too. Should Caglianone continue swinging the bat like this, he'll be taking at-bats in Kansas City before long.

Aaron Somers

Aaron Somers has more than a decade of experience writing about sports and has been published in numerous outlets, but baseball is and has always been his biggest passion. You can follow him on BlueSky, @AaronJSomers.

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