Jac Caglianone's scorching August deserves more recognition

Kansas City Royals right fielder Jac Caglianone. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Jac Caglianone's scorching August deserves more recognition

By Vanessa Serrao | Last updated Sep 1, 2026 1:11 PM ET

Kansas City Royals right fielder Jac Caglianone's dominant performance in August deserves more praise. He was one of the best hitters in baseball, posting a stellar 1.113 OPS, which was better than Pete Crow-Armstrong's 1.069 OPS.

Following his discouraging rookie campaign in 2025 where he slashed .157/.237/.295, he has made a tremendous turnaround.

His performance in August makes him deserving of winning AL Player of the month. He ranks first with a 208 wRC+, a .411 batting average, a 1.113 OPS and 26 RBI. He also ranks second in the AL with 39 hits and 14 extra-base hits.

The 23-year-old has crushed 23 home runs with a .284 batting average and an .832 OPS on the season. While he's had several noteworthy performances in August, one that's worth mentioning came against the Toronto Blue Jays on Aug. 27. In the Royals 13-2 smackdown against the Blue Jays, he went 5-for-6 with two extra-base hits, three runs and six RBI.

Jac Caglianone had a ridiculous month of August, yet the national media has hardly mentioned his name...

39 Hits • 14 XBH • 26 RBI • 1.113 OPS pic.twitter.com/1MjoJ6C6Qn
— Dan Clark (@DanClarkSports) September 1, 2026

Jac Caglianone's dominance in August deserves more praise

If Caglianone played on a big market team, his August outburst would likely garner much more recognition. During a 12-game hitting streak, he went 20-for-47 (.426 batting average) with four doubles, five home runs, 17 RBI, an .830 SLG, with a 1.267 OPS and a 250 OPS+.

He has come a long way from the rough start to his career, as he is ranked in the top 20 in batting average and top 30 in home runs.

Blossoming into a star for the Royals, it will be captivating to see what Caglianone has left to unleash in September.

Vanessa Serrao

Serrao is a freelance baseball writer who has covered all MLB teams, with particular expertise on the Toronto Blue Jays. She is a member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America.

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