Jac Caglianone Bio
Jeffrey Alan “Jac” Caglianone is an American professional baseball right fielder and first baseman for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). A highly regarded two-way talent out of the University of Florida, Caglianone was selected by the Royals with the sixth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft and made his MLB debut in 2025. In addition to his club career, he represents Italy at the international level and competed in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Early Life and Background
Jac Caglianone was born on February 9, 2003, in Tampa, Florida. He grew up in the Tampa area and attended Henry B. Plant High School, where he quickly established himself as one of the most intriguing two-way players in the country. 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.
During his senior season, Caglianone batted .371 with three home runs while also posting a 2.44 ERA with two saves and 65 strikeouts over 37+1⁄3 innings pitched. After his senior year, he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow during a postseason All-Star game and underwent Tommy John surgery. That injury ultimately shaped his college path and forced him to reconsider how he would develop as both a hitter and a pitcher.
Path to Baseball
Caglianone arrived at the University of Florida as one of the most decorated high school two-way players in recent memory. As a pitcher in high school, he featured a mid-90s fastball projected to average 94 miles per hour, with readings as high as 97–98 miles per hour, along with a slurve-like curveball, while his throws as a first baseman were projected to reach 90 miles per hour. The combination of power at the plate and power on the mound made him a unique prospect.
Originally planning to redshirt his freshman year while recovering from elbow surgery, Caglianone instead played as a designated hitter and batted .288 with seven home runs. He returned to pitching during Florida’s fall practices in 2022 and entered his sophomore season as both a starting pitcher and the Gators’ starting first baseman. He was named the NCBWA Player of the Month for February after collecting 15 hits in 35 at-bats with seven home runs, while also striking out 15 batters over 11+1⁄3 innings on the mound.
Jac Caglianone Career
Early Career (2023–2024)
In 2023, Caglianone broke Florida’s single-season home run record after hitting his 27th of the year and finished the season with 33 home runs. His power surge continued into his junior year in 2024, when he hit home runs in nine straight games, including one against Jacksonville that traveled an estimated 516 feet. That streak tied the NCAA record for most home runs hit in consecutive games.
By the end of his junior season, Caglianone had surpassed Matt LaPorta for the most career home runs by a Florida player, finishing with 75. During the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, opponents frequently deployed a defensive shift against him, with the third baseman positioned as a fourth outfielder. His college production established him as one of the top hitters available in the 2024 MLB Draft.
Minor League Career (2024–2025)
The Kansas City Royals selected Jac Caglianone with the sixth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, and he signed on July 23, receiving a $7.21 million signing bonus. He was assigned to the Quad Cities River Bandits of the High-A Midwest League to open his professional career. The Royals developed him as a position player first, and he did not pitch during his initial minor league assignments.
For the 2025 season, Caglianone was promoted to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Double-A Texas League. On April 10, he recorded a single that was the 12th-hardest-hit ball ever tracked during the Statcast era, and on April 25, he made his first outfield appearance in college or the minors, playing right field. In 38 games with Northwest Arkansas, he hit .322/.394/.553 with eight doubles, nine home runs, and 43 runs batted in. After his promotion to the Omaha Storm Chasers of Triple-A, he batted .319 with six home runs in 12 games, including home runs in four consecutive games.
Kansas City Royals Era (2025–Present)
The Royals promoted Jac Caglianone to the majors on June 2, 2025, and he made his MLB debut on June 3 against the St. Louis Cardinals, going 0-for-5. He collected his first major league hit on June 5 with a run-scoring double in the first game of a doubleheader, also against the Cardinals. On June 8, he recorded his first multi-hit and four-hit games against the Chicago White Sox, going 4-for-4 with three singles and a double in a 7–5 Royals victory, becoming the seventh MLB rookie with a four-hit game in 2025.
Caglianone hit his first major league home run on June 19 against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field and added another home run later in the same game for his first multi-homer performance. In late July, he injured his left hamstring and was placed on the injured list; before the injury, he was batting .148 with five home runs. Through June 21, 2026, he was hitting .220 with 19 home runs and 45 runs batted in for the Royals.
Driving Style and Strengths
Caglianone is known for elite bat speed and raw power, evidenced by one of the hardest-hit balls recorded during the Statcast era. The Royals have developed him as a position player rather than a two-way talent, focusing on his offensive ceiling at the plate and his growing comfort in the outfield alongside his work at first base.
Notable Events and Milestones
Signature moments include his nine-game home run streak at Florida, his 75 career home runs as a Gator, his record $7.21 million signing bonus, and his first major league multi-homer game against the Texas Rangers. His selection as an ambassador of the Italian American Baseball Foundation in April 2025 highlighted his connection to the international game.
Jac Caglianone Career Wins
Across his amateur and professional career, Jac Caglianone has built his reputation on consistent run production and milestone home run totals rather than traditional win-loss records. His most celebrated achievements have come at the plate, where his power has translated from college into the minor leagues and the major leagues.
Major League Highlights
In his rookie major league season, Caglianone’s highlights include his first hit and run batted in against the Cardinals, a four-hit game against the Chicago White Sox, and his first multi-homer game against the Texas Rangers. Through the early portion of 2026, he had tallied 19 home runs and 45 runs batted in while wearing No. 14 for the Royals.
Other Wins and Performances
At Florida, Caglianone was a two-time NCBWA monthly award winner and set the school’s single-season home run record with 33 in 2023. He also earned Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-American honors and the MLB Network/SiriusXM Two-Way Player of the Year as a high school junior, underscoring his long track record of high-level performance.
Jac Caglianone Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jac Caglianone is of Italian descent through his father and Puerto Rican descent through his mother. His dual heritage led to his selection for the Italy national baseball team, with which he competed in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. In April 2025, he was named the official ambassador of the Italian American Baseball Foundation in recognition of that background.
Personal Life
Caglianone is engaged to professional volleyball player Elli McKissock. He is a Christian and resides in the United States while playing for the Kansas City Royals. Beyond baseball, he has built a social media following through his verified accounts on X and Instagram.
2025 Season Performance
Jac Caglianone’s 2025 season followed a clear developmental arc from Double-A to Triple-A and into the major leagues. He opened the year with Northwest Arkansas, where his .322/.394/.553 slash line and nine home runs over 38 games convinced the Royals to promote him to Triple-A Omaha. With Omaha, he continued to hit for average and power, including home runs in four consecutive games.
His June promotion to Kansas City marked the transition to the major leagues, where he delivered several memorable moments, including a four-hit game against the Chicago White Sox and a multi-homer game against the Texas Rangers. A left hamstring injury in late July sent him to the injured list and interrupted his momentum at the plate, as he was batting .148 with five home runs at the time of the injury.
Looking ahead, Caglianone is positioned as a long-term piece of the Royals’ lineup, with the organization viewing him primarily as a position player. Continued development in right field, alongside his work at first base, will shape his defensive role, while his bat speed and power remain the foundation of his outlook in the major leagues.
