LAS VEGAS — Main League Baseball received its first style of Jac Caglianone final season. Now Kansas Metropolis Royals normal supervisor J.J. Piccolo is hoping for an extended, extra improved look from the regarded prospect in 2026.
The No. 6 choose within the 2024 MLB draft, Caglianone shortly climbed the organizational ladder and made his MLB debut with the Royals final season on June 3. He noticed motion in 41 video games earlier than a left hamstring pressure sidelined him on July 27. Caglianone would not return to the Royals till Sept. 1, however was best when he returned after the damage, posting a .643 OPS in 71 plate appearances to finish the season.
Total, Caglianone slashed .157/.237/.295 in his 232 plate appearances. It was a testomony to the problem of adjusting to MLB pitching, but additionally set the stage for what the Royals hope will likely be a greater 2026.
“Wanting again on it, I feel we made the precise resolution in that second,” Piccolo mentioned on Wednesday afternoon. “We have been placing rather a lot on him as a result of we weren’t swinging the bats effectively on the time. And right here comes one of many high prospects within the recreation, and he goes by some struggles. We have seen it occur earlier than, however hopefully he learns from these struggles, and he is extra ready this time round going into ’26, however we even have to bear in mind he is a younger hitter.
“We have now to produce other choices, simply in case issues do not go in addition to we favored them to go, however probably the most excellent final result for us could be Jac hit the best way he is actually able to hitting and we do not fear about it.”
A part of that will revolve round precisely what position Caglianone performs for Kansas Metropolis subsequent season. On Wednesday, Piccolo mentioned that will focus on which gamers the Royals signal this offseason.
“I feel a few of it’ll rely on who we’re capable of purchase or signal, as a result of the extra veterans you’ve gotten round, the extra solidified your lineup is and the extra affected person you could be,” Piccolo mentioned.
Piccolo would not decide to Caglianone being part of the Opening Day roster, saying the Royals “had excessive hopes and expectations for him.” Nonetheless, he adopted that by saying the Royals could be prepared to make use of Caglianone “whether or not that is Opening Day subsequent yr or evolves into that by July.”
Caglianone performed in proper area for the Royals in 52 video games final season, however Kansas Metropolis’s outfield total was one of many weakest in all of baseball. Kansas Metropolis’s minus-6.4 Wins Above Common mixed by its outfield was twenty ninth amongst MLB’s 30 groups.
These numbers have Piccolo considering of how he’ll enhance that space this offseason.
“Our outfield hasn’t been as productive as we wanted to be over the past two or three years, so we’re again at it once more, making an attempt to determine issues out,” Piccolo mentioned. “We have now a younger participant that we predict goes to be excellent in Caglianone. Kyle Isbel has been an above-average defender, and middle and left area has been somewhat little bit of a revolving door. We have now to attempt to settle that after which have roster flexibility.
“If we had any person may go from the infield to the outfield, that is very useful as effectively. So making an attempt to finish the roster in that trend could be excellent, however the outfield goes to be the large one. If it is any person can match in the course of the lineup, even higher.”
