KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In a bid to invigorate a struggling offense, the Kansas City Royals have called up their highly anticipated prospect, Jac Caglianone. The promising first baseman and outfielder is poised to make his major league debut on Tuesday night against the St. Louis Cardinals. The announcement came on Monday, during the Royals’ day off, with outfielder Dairon Blanco heading to Triple-A Omaha to accommodate Caglianone’s promotion.
The Royals’ decision follows a frustrating series of low-scoring games, including two consecutive contests that ended 1-0 against the Detroit Tigers. With Kansas City finding it challenging to produce runs this season, evidenced by hitting a major league-low of 34 home runs and scoring just 194 runs, tied with the Pittsburgh Pirates and only slightly better than the Colorado Rockies, the need for offensive reinforcement was pressing.
Jac Caglianone, at 22, was a top pick, selected sixth overall out of Florida in the previous year’s amateur draft. Initially considered a two-way player because of his formidable left arm, Caglianone’s future role was more intriguing for his batting capabilities. His potential to revitalize the Royals’ offense is promising, offering the kind of immediate impact that the team has yearned for.
Caglianone’s ascent through the minor leagues has been notable; in 50 games this season between Double-A and Triple-A, he has accumulated 15 home runs and 56 RBIs while maintaining an impressive .322 batting average, showing remarkable consistency even after advancing to a higher playing level. Though primarily stationed at first base, he faces stiff competition at that position in Kansas City. Vinnie Pasquantino holds the primary role there, and veteran Salvador Perez often rotates in when not catching, also taking on designated hitter duties.
Kansas City has found an urgent need in their outfield, where collectively, the performance has been underwhelming with a batting average of .237, accompanied by just seven homers and 46 RBIs over 663 plate appearances. Earlier roster adjustments saw MJ Melendez moved to Omaha after a challenging start, and Hunter Renfroe exited after being designated for assignment following a slump.
Recently, the Royals promoted outfielder John Rave, a promising player drafted in the fifth round in 2019, who showcased his potential with a .301 average, nine home runs, and 17 steals in 44 games at Omaha. Despite the team’s offensive struggles, the Royals maintain a 31-29 record, thanks to a strong pitching staff conceding just 201 runs, second only to the Mets. The upcoming series includes three matchups with the Cardinals in St. Louis and a trio of games against the White Sox in Chicago before Caglianone could potentially face the Yankees at home on June 10.