Royals GM details hopes, potential 2026 plan for Jac Caglianone

LAS VEGAS — Major League Baseball got its first taste of Jac Caglianone last season. Now Kansas City Royals general manager J.J. Piccolo is hoping for a longer, more improved look from the regarded prospect in 2026.

The No. 6 pick in the 2024 MLB draft, Caglianone quickly climbed the organizational ladder and made his MLB debut with the Royals last season on June 3. He saw action in 41 games before a left hamstring strain sidelined him on July 27. Caglianone wouldn't return to the Royals until Sept. 1, but was most productive when he returned after the injury, posting a .643 OPS in 71 plate appearances to end the season.

Overall, Caglianone slashed .157/.237/.295 in his 232 plate appearances. It was a testament to the difficulty of adjusting to MLB pitching, but also set the stage for what the Royals hope will be a better 2026.

"Looking back on it, I think we made the right decision in that moment," Piccolo said on Wednesday afternoon. "We were putting a lot on him because we weren't swinging the bats well at the time. And here comes one of the top prospects in the game, and he goes through some struggles. We've seen it happen before, but hopefully he learns from those struggles, and he's more prepared this time around going into '26, but we also have to keep in mind he's a young hitter.

"We have to have other options, just in case things don't go as well as we liked them to go, but the most ideal outcome for us would be Jac hit the way he's certainly capable of hitting and we don't worry about it."

Part of that may revolve around exactly what role Caglianone plays for Kansas City next season. On Wednesday, Piccolo said that may center around which players the Royals sign this offseason.

"I think some of it will depend on who we're able to acquire or sign, because the more veterans you have around, the more solidified your lineup is and the more patient you can be," Piccolo said.

Piccolo wouldn't commit to Caglianone being a part of the Opening Day roster, saying the Royals "had high hopes and expectations for him." However, he followed that by saying the Royals would be ready to use Caglianone "whether that's Opening Day next year or evolves into that by July."

Caglianone played in right field for the Royals in 52 games last season, but Kansas City's outfield overall was one of the weakest in all of baseball. Kansas City's minus-6.4 Wins Above Average combined by its outfield was 29th among MLB's 30 teams.

Those numbers have Piccolo thinking of how he will improve that area this offseason.

"Our outfield hasn't been as productive as we needed to be over the last two or three years, so we're back at it again, trying to figure things out," Piccolo said. "We have a young player that we think is going to be very good in Caglianone. Kyle Isbel has been an above-average defender, and center and left field has been a little bit of a revolving door. We have to try to settle that and then have roster flexibility.

"If we had somebody could go from the infield to the outfield, that's very beneficial as well. So trying to complete the roster in that fashion would be ideal, but the outfield is going to be the big one. If it's somebody can fit in the middle of the lineup, even better."