One of baseball’s top hitting prospects is set to make his big league debut, as reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The Kansas City Royals have announced that they are calling up Jac Caglianone, positioning him to take the field on Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals following an off-day on Monday. With only 39 players on the Royals’ 40-man roster, the club can easily select Caglianone’s contract on Tuesday, necessitating just one corresponding transaction to create space on the active roster.
Less than a year ago, Caglianone was anxiously awaiting his draft call. As a star from the University of Florida, he was selected by the Royals as the sixth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. His rapid ascent to the majors is noteworthy, especially considering he joins fellow 2024 first-rounders Cam Smith and Nick Kurtz, who have also made their debuts. Caglianone has made a strong case for his promotion by dominating minor league pitching this season.
Despite posting a modest .690 OPS in 126 plate appearances during his time at High-A ball in 2024, Caglianone has significantly increased his performance at the Double-A and Triple-A levels this year, boasting an impressive combined slash line of .323/.391/.600 across 225 plate appearances. Today marked his 12th game in Triple-A, which raises eyebrows about the aggressive nature of his promotion to the majors at such an early stage in his professional career.
As noted by MLBTR’s Steve Adams, the Royals’ decision to promote Caglianone may have been fueled by the struggles of the team’s lineup, particularly in the outfield. The Royals recently suffered a 1-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers, marking their sixth shutout loss of the season. Currently, Kansas City is tied with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the second-lowest run total in baseball, with only 194 runs scored, trailing only the struggling Colorado Rockies. With the Royals ranking at or near the bottom in several key offensive categories, a change was necessary, especially given that the strong pitching rotation has been the primary factor keeping Kansas City in contention for the AL Central title.
The groundwork for Caglianone’s swift promotion was laid back in April when he made his initial appearance as an outfielder with Double-A NW Arkansas. Known for being both a star first baseman and pitcher during his college career, Caglianone made the decision to abandon pitching in favor of focusing solely on hitting as a professional. Over the past five weeks, he has received substantial playing time in right field, although this has not been his sole position.
With Vinnie Pasquantino firmly established at first base and various players rotating through the designated hitter spot, deploying Caglianone in right field presents a logical solution for the Royals. This move not only allows them to bring a star prospect to the majors but also addresses their ongoing need for outfield assistance. Despite the Royals’ playoff appearance in 2024, their outfield remained a significant weak link, and offseason efforts to enhance the position yielded minimal results.
Caglianone’s promotion is part of a broader shake-up within the team, which has already seen MJ Melendez optioned to Triple-A in April and Hunter Renfroe released earlier this week. The left-handed hitting Caglianone is expected to share time between right field, first base, and potentially the designated hitter role. Meanwhile, Drew Waters and Kyle Isbel will continue their platoon in center field, while Mark Canha, Michael Massey, and Jonathan India are anticipated to handle responsibilities in left field. Massey and India may also contribute at second base, with Canha likely filling in at right field against left-handed pitchers.
Manager Matt Quatraro might employ creative strategies with his lineup, particularly given that only Bobby Witt Jr. and Maikel Garcia are producing above-average numbers. Even Witt’s 121 wRC+ represents a significant decline from his MVP runner-up performance in 2024. As the Royals navigate this transition, fans can look forward to seeing how Caglianone impacts their season moving forward.
