Less than a year after being selected sixth overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, Jac Caglianone has made his Major League debut with the Kansas City Royals, marking a swift ascent through professional baseball ranks. The 22-year-old left-handed slugger from the University of Florida turned heads with his elite power and versatility, drawing comparisons to two-way phenoms like Shohei Ohtani during his college career. Caglianone led the NCAA in home runs during his final season at Florida while also serving as a formidable starting pitcher—an almost unheard-of combination at the collegiate level.
Caglianone wasted no time making his mark in the minors. Across just 50 games in Double-A and Triple-A, he posted a .322 batting average with 15 home runs, 56 RBIs, and a slugging percentage north of .650. In Triple-A Omaha, he continued to showcase his elite bat speed and plate discipline, slashing .319/.370/.723 before the Royals made the call to bring him up. That performance fast-tracked his promotion, with Kansas City hoping his power can ignite an offense that’s struggled to find consistent production.
In his June 3, 2025, MLB debut against the St. Louis Cardinals, Caglianone went hitless in five at-bats, but that didn’t tell the full story. He registered four hard-hit balls, including a 113.9 mph groundout—evidence of the raw power that has scouts and fans buzzing. Even without a hit, his presence seemed to energize the Royals, who rallied to a 10-7 comeback victory. The moment marked a symbolic passing of the torch, with Kansas City’s rebuild entering a new, more hopeful phase.
Looking ahead, the Royals are expected to give Caglianone every opportunity to develop at the Major League level. While it remains to be seen whether he will continue to pitch as a pro, his bat alone makes him a potential franchise cornerstone. With the tools, maturity, and work ethic to back it up, Caglianone’s rise may be just the beginning of a special career in Kansas City—and possibly one of the most exciting rookie campaigns in recent memory.
