Jac Caglianone
{{Short description|American baseball player (born 2003)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name = Jac Caglianone
|image = File:Jac Caglianone Florida interview.png
|caption=Caglianone in 2023
|team = Kansas City Royals
|number =
|position = First baseman
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|2|9}}
|birth_place = Tampa, Florida, U.S.
|bats = Left
|throws = Left
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|awards =
- Consensus All-American (2023, 2024)
- John Olerud Award (2024)
- First Team Academic All-American
- Academic All-American Team Member of the Year (2024)
}}
Jeffrey Alan "Jac" Caglianone (born February 9, 2003) is an American professional baseball first baseman in the Kansas City Royals organization. He was selected by the Royals with the sixth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. Caglianone played college baseball for the Florida Gators where he also was a pitcher.
Amateur career
Caglianone grew up in Tampa, Florida, and attended Henry B. Plant High School.{{cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Hector |date=July 21, 2020 |title=Five UF commits who could play in the Perfect Game All-American Classic |url=https://florida.rivals.com/news/five-uf-commits-who-could-play-in-the-perfect-game-all-american-classic |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327192620/https://florida.rivals.com/news/five-uf-commits-who-could-play-in-the-perfect-game-all-american-classic |archive-date=March 27, 2024 |access-date=March 15, 2023 |website=Rivals.com}} As a senior, he batted .371 with three home runs and posted a 2.44 ERA with two saves and 65 strikeouts over {{frac|37|1|3}} innings pitched.{{cite web |last=Bortner |first=Sullivan |date=October 14, 2021 |title=Meet the Gators: Jac Caglianone |url=https://floridagators.com/news/2021/10/12/baseball-meet-the-gators-jac-caglianone |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316161105/https://floridagators.com/news/2021/10/12/baseball-meet-the-gators-jac-caglianone |archive-date=March 16, 2023 |access-date=March 15, 2023 |website=FloridaGators.com}} Caglianone tore his left ulnar collateral ligament while playing in a postseason All-Star game after the season.{{cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Hector |date=August 8, 2021 |title=Florida Gators 2021 Baseball Recruiting Class |url=https://florida.rivals.com/news/florida-gators-2021-baseball-recruiting-class |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327213622/https://florida.rivals.com/news/florida-gators-2021-baseball-recruiting-class |archive-date=March 27, 2024 |access-date=March 3, 2023 |website=Rivals.com}}
In 2020 he played in the Perfect Game Showcase and in 2020 he was named 2020 All-American Classic player his Fastball was projected to be 94 MPH and his First Baseman throw is projected to be 90 MPH when he was in High School
Caglianone initially planned on redshirting his freshman season at Florida while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but ultimately played as a designated hitter.{{Cite web |last=Weinrib |first=Ben |date=July 14, 2024 |title='This dude really can do it all': How setbacks put Caglianone on path to stardom |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jac-caglianone-mlb-draft-prospect-2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715175804/https://www.mlb.com/news/jac-caglianone-mlb-draft-prospect-2024 |archive-date=July 15, 2024 |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} He batted .288 with seven home runs during his freshman season.{{cite web |last=Rudner |first=Jacob |date=February 6, 2023 |title=Florida baseball position group preview: Designated hitter |url=https://247sports.com/college/florida/LongFormArticle/Florida-baseball-season-preview-Kevin-OSullivan-Gators-designated-hitter-Jac-Caglianone-BT-Riopelle-roster-SEC-204319094/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319141042/https://247sports.com/college/florida/LongFormArticle/Florida-baseball-season-preview-Kevin-OSullivan-Gators-designated-hitter-Jac-Caglianone-BT-Riopelle-roster-SEC-204319094/ |archive-date=March 19, 2023 |access-date=March 3, 2023 |website=247Sports.com}} Caglianone returned to pitching during Florida's fall practices in 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.wruf.com/headlines/2023/01/10/catching-up-with-cags-florida-baseballs-jac-caglianone/|title=Catching Up with Cags: Florida Baseball's Jac Caglianone|first=Ashley|last=Hearn|website=WRUF.com|date=January 10, 2023|access-date=March 3, 2023}} He entered his sophomore season as both a starting pitcher and as the Gators' starting first baseman.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/floridas-jac-caglianone-homers-three-times-strikes-out-six-as-two-way-player-maintains-hot-start-to-season/|title=Florida's Jac Caglianone homers three times, strikes out six as two-way player maintains hot start to season|first=R.J.|last=Anderson|website=CBS Sports|date=February 26, 2023|access-date=March 3, 2023}} Caglianone was named the NCBWA Player of the Month for February after collecting 15 hits in 35 at-bats with seven home runs and also striking out 15 batters over {{frac|11|1|3}} innings pitched.{{cite web|url=https://247sports.com/college/florida/Article/Florida-baseball-Jac-Caglianone-awards-highlights-MLB-Draft-Kevin-OSullivan-Gators-205665619/|title=Caglianone named NCBWA National Player of the Month|first=Jacob|last=Rudner|website=247Sports.com|date=March 3, 2023|access-date=March 6, 2023}} He broke Florida's single-season home run record after hitting his 27th of the year and finished with 33.{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Edgar |date=May 6, 2023 |title=UF sluggers Jac Caglianone, Skylar Wallace setting records |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/05/06/uf-gators-jac-caglianone-skylar-wallace-set-records |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=Orlando Sentinel}} Caglianone was drafted sixth overall by the Royals in the 2024 MLB Draft.
In his junior year in 2024, he hit a home run in nine straight games including one against Jacksonville that traveled an estimated {{convert|516|ft|m}}, farther than any home run recorded in the major leagues since Statcast was introduced in 2015.{{Cite web |last=Jacobson |first=Cole |date=April 16, 2024 |title='Collegiate Ohtani' runs HR streak to 7 with MONSTER shot |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/florida-s-jac-caglianone-hits-home-run-in-seventh-straight-game |access-date=June 17, 2024 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} This also tied the record for most home runs hit in consecutive games at the NCAA level.{{Cite web |last=Cahill |first=Teddy |date=April 20, 2024 |title=Jac Caglianone Home Run Streak Ends At 9 Games, Ties NCAA Record |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/jac-caglianone-home-run-streak-ends-at-9-games-ties-ncaa-record/ |access-date=June 17, 2024 |website=Baseball America |language=en-US}} Caglianone also surpassed Matt LaPorta for the most career home runs by a Florida player, with 75. As a result of his power at the plate, during the 2024 Mens College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska his opponents would often play a shift with a third basemen acting as a fourth outfielder. {{Citation |title=Texas A&M employs insane shift for Jac Caglianone in CWS matchup |last=Peery |first=Wade |date=June 15, 2024 |url=https://www.on3.com/college/florida-gators/news/texas-am-employs-insane-shift-for-jac-caglianone-in-cws-matchup/|publisher=University of Flordia |access-date=March 14, 2024 }}
Professional career
Caglianone was drafted by the Kansas City Royals with the 6th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.{{Cite web |last=Rogers |first=Anne |date=July 14, 2024 |title=Two-way Caglianone 'too good to pass up' for Royals at No. 6 |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jac-caglianone-drafted-no-6-by-royals-in-2024-mlb-draft |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715060308/https://www.mlb.com/news/jac-caglianone-drafted-no-6-by-royals-in-2024-mlb-draft |archive-date=July 15, 2024 |access-date=July 15, 2024 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} Caglianone signed with the Royals on July 23 and received a $7.21 million signing bonus.{{Cite web |last=Franco |first=Anthony |date=July 23, 2024 |title=Royals Sign First-Round Pick Jac Caglianone |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jac-caglianone-drafted-no-6-by-royals-in-2024-mlb-draft |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240722170549/https://www.mlb.com/news/jac-caglianone-drafted-no-6-by-royals-in-2024-mlb-draft |archive-date=July 22, 2024 |access-date=July 23, 2024 |website=mlbtraderumors.com |language=en }} Caglianone was assigned to the Quad Cities River Bandits of the High-A Midwest League to begin his professional career.{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=TJ |date=August 6, 2024 |title=MIDWEST LEAGUE: Caglianone rips double for first pro hit |url=https://qctimes.com/sports/professional/minor/jac-caglianone-kansas-city-royals-major-league-baseball-florida-gators/article_4f3b46be-5435-11ef-b5fe-174b4eb1dd6c.html |access-date=August 7, 2024 |website=Quad-City Times}} On April 10, he recorded a single that at the time was the 12th hardest ball ever hit during the Statcast era.{{Cite web |title=Caglianone's latest must-see feat: A 120.9 mph base hit?! |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/royals-prospect-jac-caglianone-hard-hit-single |access-date=2025-04-11 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} On April 25, he played in right field, his first in the college or the minor league level being in the outfield. Caglianone still has yet to pitch as a pro, instead opting to focus on his development as a position player in 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/onsi/minor-league-baseball/news/kansas-city-royals-top-prospect-two-way-slugger-first-baseman-pitcher-jac-caglianone-makes-major-move-starts-in-outfield-double-a-01jsq0kpzrg6|title=Kansas City Royals Top Prospect Jac Caglianone Makes Major Move, Starts in Outfield|last=Connon|first=Sam|publisher=Sports Illustrated|date=April 25, 2025|access-date=April 25, 2025|language=en}}
References
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External links
{{baseballstats|mlb=695506|brm=caglia000jac}}
- [https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/jac-caglianone/15489 Florida Gators bio]
{{2024 College Baseball Consensus All-Americans}}
{{2024 MLB Draft}}
{{John Olerud Award}}
{{Kansas City Royals first-round draft picks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Caglianone, Jac}}
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:All-American college baseball players
Category:American people of Italian descent
Category:Baseball first basemen
Category:Baseball players from Tampa, Florida
Category:Florida Gators baseball players