Jac Caglianone, a sixth overall pick by the Kansas City Royals in the 2024 MLB Draft, experienced a challenging rookie season in 2025, recording a .157 batting average, seven home runs, 18 RBIs, and a .532 OPS. He struggled with aggressiveness and pitch selection, leading to concerns about his ability to handle major league pitching. Despite a dominant minor league stint forcing his call-up in June 2025, Caglianone initially failed to adapt to the higher level of play.
However, Caglianone has made a dramatic turnaround in his sophomore year, 2026. This resurgence is attributed to a mental shift, including offseason psychological work and experience gained from playing in the World Baseball Classic. Royals General Manager J.J. Picollo noted Caglianone's improved preparation and adjustments to how pitchers are approaching him. Manager Matt Quatraro highlighted the significant improvement in his at-bats, especially against left-handed pitchers.
In June 2026, Caglianone is leading MLB in batting average (.538), on-base percentage (.625), and OPS (1.587), marking a substantial improvement from his rookie numbers. Since May 15, he is hitting .342 with eight extra-base hits and 11 RBIs, reaching base in 20 of 32 plate appearances in June. He has a .275 batting average for the season with 56 hits, and a .804 OPS, surpassing his 2025 totals. The Royals are optimistic that Caglianone is finally developing into the offensive threat they envisioned, complementing their core players like Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, Salvador Perez, and Maikel Garcia.
