The Kansas City Royals have officially called up Jac Caglianone, their highly touted first baseman and outfielder, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated MLB debuts of the season. Caglianone, just a year removed from being the sixth overall pick in the 2024 draft, made his big league debut Tuesday night against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Caglianone’s rise through the minors was nothing short of meteoric. After dominating Double-A and Triple-A pitching with a combined .323/.391/.600 slash line and home runs in just 50 games, the Royals wasted little time bringing the 22-year-old up to the majors His power at the plate quickly became the talk of the organization, especially as Kansas City’s offense has struggled for production this season.
In his debut, Caglianone went hitless in five at-bats, but his presence energized the Royals’ lineup, sparking a dramatic 10-7 comeback win over the Cardinals Batting sixth as the designated hitter, he narrowly missed a hit in his first plate appearance, lining a ball deep to right-center that was caught on a running play by Cardinals outfielder Victor Scott II Despite not reaching base, Caglianone’s arrival was met with loud cheers from Royals fans who traveled to St. Louis to witness his first game.
The call-up did not come without controversy. Some baseball insiders, including former Marlins president David Samson, questioned the timing of the move, noting that promoting Caglianone now could cost the Royals an extra year of team control if he remains in the majors all season However, the Royals opted to prioritize immediate impact over long-term contractual strategy, betting on Caglianone’s ability to help turn around their season.
With his debut now behind him, all eyes are on Caglianone to see if he can translate his minor league power to the big leagues and become the offensive force Kansas City desperately needs.
