Despite an impressive spring performance, the Kansas City Royals have decided that top prospect Jac Caglianone will not start the 2025 season with the big league club. Instead, the former Florida Gators standout will begin the year in Double-A, as announced on Monday.
In 17 at-bats this spring, Jac Caglianone showcased his potential by slashing .529/.636/1.235, including three towering home runs and an OPS of 1.871. His average exit velocity of 94.6 mph put him in elite company, with only Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, and O’Neil Cruz posting higher averages last season.
“I think I showed what I’m capable of,” Jac Caglianone told MLB.com. “I went out here just wanting to perform, get to know everybody, and get comfortable out here. I think I did that and definitely learned a lot. Being around a bunch of big leaguers was the coolest thing ever.”
His presence left a strong impression on his Royals teammates and coaching staff. “I think he did an incredible job, not only on the field but in the clubhouse,” said manager Matt Quatraro. “You could tell he earned their respect very quickly for the way he goes about it. He’s a pro, and that happened quickly.”
After being selected sixth overall in last July’s draft, Jac Caglianone played in High-A with the Quad City River Bandits. Now, he’ll take the next step with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals at the Double-A level. His timeline for a promotion to Triple-A Omaha—or even a call-up to Kansas City—remains uncertain, but if he continues hitting at this pace, it may not be long before he becomes a fixture at Kauffman Stadium.
