The Kansas City Royals have taken a big step, calling up their top prospect, Jac Caglianone, from Triple-A Omaha to the big leagues. 

A sixth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft from the University of Florida, Caglianone has quickly worked his way up through the Royals' system, displaying premium power and becoming one of baseball's hottest young stars. Rated the Royals' No. 1 prospect and No. 10 in baseball by MLB Pipeline, the 22-year-old outfielder and first baseman is poised to put an end to Kansas City's offense problems and bring some energy to their lineup.

 

Jac Caglianone Prospect Status

Caglianone's rapid ascent through the minors suggests his position as a building block of the Royals' future. Selected as a two-way phenom out of Florida, where he was both a power-hitting first baseman and a pitcher, Caglianone has concentrated solely on hitting in 2025, and it has sped up his trajectory to the majors. His 80-grade elite power, prospect evaluators have raved, has been on display at every level, with tape-measure home runs and jaw-dropping exit velocities.

Following a tremendous college career—.355/.447/.760 with 75 homers in three seasons—Caglianone began at High-A Quad Cities in 2024 and batted .241/.302/.388. This spring, he stood out in big-league camp, batting .500/.588/1.278 with three homers in 17 Cactus League plate appearances, with a refined approach and more walks (five) than swings-and-misses (three). His swift move to Triple-A Omaha on May 18, 2025, following only 38 games in Double-A, attested to his dominance, and his showing in Triple-A only generated more hype for his MLB debut.

The Royals, 31-29 but struggling offensively with a league-low 34 home runs, view Caglianone as one of their possible spark plugs. His positional flexibility, playing primarily first base but also the outfield, provides some wiggle room for Kansas City to get him in the lineup even with Vinnie Pasquantino at first. General manager J.J. Picollo talked about taking a patient approach to the situation, wanting to get Caglianone against advanced pitching and polish his plate discipline before the promotion. With Caglianone's recent hot streak in Triple-A, the Royals obviously believe he is ready to contribute.

 

Jac Caglianone Stats

Caglianone's minor-league play in 2025 has been nothing short of spectacular, making his case for a callup to the big leagues. Below are the details of his statistics by level, as presented in the information:

2024 High-A (Quad Cities, KCR): Caglianone batted .241/.302/.388 with 2 HR, 14 RBI, and 13 runs in 126 plate appearances over 29 games. The 5.6% walk rate and 20.6% strikeout rate were areas of concern to smooth out, but his .147 ISO was a glimpse of his emerging power.

2025 Double-A (Northwest Arkansas, KCR): He batted .322/.394/.553 in 38 games and 175 plate appearances with 9 HR, 43 RBI, and 32 runs. The walk rate of 10.9% and strikeout rate of 21.1% indicated better plate discipline, while the .230 ISO and .367 BABIP displayed the power and average hitting skills.

2025 Triple-A (Omaha, KCR): In just 11 games and 50 plate appearances, Caglianone has been explosive with a .326/.380/.767 line, 6 HR, 13 RBI, and 8 runs. The .442 ISO and 1.147 OPS illustrate the dominance, while a 10.0% walk rate and lower 16.0% strikeout rate demonstrate increased polish.

2025 MiLB Combined: He is hitting .323/.391/.600 in 49 games and 225 plate appearances with 15 HR, 56 RBI, and 40 runs. His .277 ISO, .430 wOBA, and 161 wRC+ indicate premium offense.

Caglianone’s power surge in Triple-A, including five homers in his first six games—two exceeding 440 feet—has been a clarion call for his readiness. His ability to handle better pitching while cutting his chase rate to 34.2% further bolsters confidence in his transition to the majors.

 

Jac Caglianone Fantasy Baseball Projection

To fantasy baseball general managers, Caglianone is an add-now prospect with superstar upside. The 80-grade power offers immediate home run upside, which will have him being a major contributor in the HR, RBI, and slugging percentage categories. His .323 minor league batting average this season demonstrates that he can help batting average as well, though his 20.0% minor league strikeout rate this season portends some risk of adjustment to MLB pitching.

Caglianone's positional flexibility only enhances his fantasy value. Capable at first base and possibly outfield (after playing the corners for seven games in 2025), he provides roster depth. The Royals' lack of outfield offense—where their outfielders have batted an anemic .235/.283/.329 with seven home runs—positions Caglianone for consistent at-bats, probably sharing time at first base, outfield, and DH.

Still, fantasy owners should temper expectations for an immediate impact. Caglianone's chase rate and swing-and-miss propensity will be exploited by major-league pitchers, potentially causing an initial batting average slump. His elite walk rates (10.7% in 2025) and premium exit velocities (up to 120.9 mph) buffer some of that risk, offering the hope for a high ceiling. He's doing well as a redraft league stash candidate and dynasty league building block, with the upside to be an elite-level top-10 fantasy first baseman for the season if he can secure regular playing time.

Jac Caglianone's promotion to the Kansas City Royals is a landmark event for the player and the team. His stratospheric power, refining plate prowess, and position flexibility set him up to solve the Royals' offense struggles and inject energy into a team that's fighting for a postseason berth. There is certainly risk for adjustment difficulties, as with any prospect, but Caglianone's minor-league supremacy and physical abilities predict that he has the potential to be an impact talent. Royals fans and fantasy players everywhere will be glued to their sets as he bursts onto the big league scene, reshaping Kansas City's offense and solidifying his star-in-the-making status.

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