Jac Caglianone Bio
Jac Caglianone is an American professional baseball right fielder and first baseman for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born in Tampa, Florida, on February 9, 2003, Caglianone was selected by the Royals with the sixth overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft and made his MLB debut in 2025, quickly establishing himself as a power hitter with a notable ability to hit home runs.
Early Life and Background
Jac Caglianone grew up in Tampa, Florida, and attended Henry B. Plant High School. As a junior in 2020, he played in Perfect Game’s All-American Classic in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and was named a Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-American and the MLB Network/SiriusXM Two-Way Player of the Year. As a senior, he batted .371 with three home runs and posted a 2.44 ERA with two saves and 65 strikeouts over 37 1/3 innings pitched.
In high school, Caglianone was a two-pitch pitcher who featured a mid-90s fastball projected to average 94 miles per hour and measured at up to 97-98 miles per hour, as well as a slurve-like curveball, while his throws as a first baseman were projected to be 90 miles per hour. He tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow while playing in a postseason All-Star game after his senior season, subsequently undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Path to Baseball
Following his injury, Caglianone initially planned on redshirting his freshman season at the University of Florida while recovering from his elbow operation, but ultimately played as a designated hitter. He batted .288 with seven home runs during his freshman season. Caglianone returned to pitching during Florida’s fall practices in 2022 and entered his sophomore season as both a starting pitcher and as the Gators’ starting first baseman.
Caglianone was named the NCBWA Player of the Month for February after collecting 15 hits in 35 at-bats with seven home runs and striking out 15 batters over 11 1/3 innings pitched. He broke Florida’s single-season home run record after hitting his 27th of the year and finished with 33. In his junior year in 2024, he hit home runs in nine straight games, including one against Jacksonville that traveled an estimated 516 feet. This also tied the record for most home runs hit in consecutive games at the NCAA level. Caglianone also surpassed Matt LaPorta for the most career home runs by a Florida player, with 75.
Jac Caglianone Career
Early Career (2025)
Jac Caglianone began his professional career in 2024 after being drafted by the Kansas City Royals with the sixth overall pick in the MLB draft. He signed with the Royals on July 23 and received a $7.21 million signing bonus. Caglianone was assigned to the Quad Cities River Bandits of the High-A Midwest League to begin his professional career. For the 2025 season, he was promoted to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Double-A Texas League.
Throughout his early professional development, Caglianone focused on developing as a position player rather than pitching, despite his collegiate experience as a two-way player. On April 10, 2025, he recorded a single that at the time was the 12th-hardest-hit ball ever recorded during the Statcast era. On April 25, he played in right field, his first outfield appearance in college or the minor leagues.
Kansas City Royals Breakthrough (2025–Present)
On May 18, 2025, Caglianone was promoted to the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Triple-A International League, as the Royals organization felt he was ready to be challenged with a higher level of competition, especially as a hitter; in 38 games with Northwest Arkansas, he hit .322/.394/.553, with eight doubles, nine home runs, and 43 runs batted in, drawing 19 walks and striking out 37 times in 175 plate appearances. In his initial stint with Omaha, he batted .319 with 6 home runs in 12 games, hitting home runs in four consecutive games.
On June 2, 2025, Caglianone was promoted to the majors. He made his debut on June 3 against the St. Louis Cardinals, going 0-for-5. He got his first hit with a double that drove in a run on June 5 in the first game of a doubleheader against the Cardinals. On June 8, Caglianone recorded his first multi-hit game and four-hit game against the Chicago White Sox, going 4-for-4 with 3 singles and a double in a Royals 7–5 victory. He became the seventh MLB rookie with a 4-hit game in 2025.
Caglianone hit his first major league home run on June 19, against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Another home run a few innings later resulted in his first multi-HR game. He injured his left hamstring muscle in late July, sending him to the injured list. Before the injury, he was batting .148 with five home runs. Through June 23, 2026, Caglianone has compiled a .222 batting average with 21 home runs and 48 runs batted in.
Playing Style and Strengths
Jac Caglianone is primarily known for his exceptional power at the plate, with the ability to hit home runs at an impressive rate. During his college career, opponents often utilized defensive shifts during his plate appearances, with the third baseman positioned as a fourth outfielder. He has shown the ability to hit for both average and power, with a disciplined approach that includes drawing walks.
Notable Events and Milestones
During the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, Caglianone’s opponents frequently employed defensive shifts against him due to his power. He holds the Florida Gators’ single-season home run record with 33 home runs in 2023 and the school’s career home run record with 75, surpassing Matt LaPorta. He also tied the NCAA record for most home runs in consecutive games with nine in 2024.
Jac Caglianone Career Wins
Jac Caglianone has established himself as a power hitter since turning professional, with notable achievements at both the collegiate and professional levels. His most significant accomplishments include breaking Florida’s single-season and career home run records, as well as his early success in Major League Baseball with the Kansas City Royals.
MLB Highlights
Through June 23, 2026, Caglianone has compiled 21 home runs in Major League Baseball, with his first major league home run coming on June 19, 2025, against the Texas Rangers. He recorded his first multi-hit game on June 8, 2025, against the Chicago White Sox, going 4-for-4 with 3 singles and a double. He became the seventh MLB rookie with a 4-hit game in 2025 and later achieved his first multi-HR game.
College Highlights
During his collegiate career with the Florida Gators, Caglianone set the single-season home run record with 33 home runs in 2023 and the career home run record with 75. In 2024, he hit home runs in nine consecutive games, tying the NCAA record for most home runs in consecutive games. He was named the NCBWA Player of the Month for February 2023 after hitting seven home runs and striking out 15 batters over 11 1/3 innings pitched.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| MLB | 21 | N/A | N/A |
Jac Caglianone Family
Family Background and Baseball Heritage
Jac Caglianone is of Italian descent through his father and Puerto Rican descent through his mother. This multicultural background has influenced his international career, as he has represented Italy at the international level. In April 2025, he was named the official ambassador of the Italian American Baseball Foundation, recognizing his connection to his Italian heritage.
Personal Life
Caglianone is engaged to marry professional volleyball player Elli McKissock. He is a Christian and has maintained his faith throughout his athletic career. His family background has played a significant role in his identity both as an athlete and as a person, particularly in his representation of Italy in international competition.
2025 Season Performance
Jac Caglianone’s 2025 season marked his transition from collegiate baseball to the professional ranks with the Kansas City Royals organization. After being drafted sixth overall in 2024, he began the season in Double-A with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, where he hit .322/.394/.553 with nine home runs in 38 games.
His rapid promotion to Triple-A Omaha in May 2025 demonstrated his exceptional hitting ability, where he continued to perform at a high level with a .319 batting average and six home runs in just 12 games. His promotion to the majors on June 2, 2025, was a testament to his power potential and quick adaptation to higher levels of competition. Despite a brief stint on the injured list due to a hamstring injury in late July, Caglianone showed promising signs of becoming a power hitter in Major League Baseball.