Royals' Jac Caglianone Hits First MLB Home Run

Kansas City Royals top prospect Jac Caglianone hit his first major league home run on Thursday, launching a 387-foot solo shot off a 95.5 mph fastball from Texas Rangers lefty Jacob Latz in his 14th MLB game. The homer came after Caglianone sat out his first game, and it was notable for being hit off a pitch 4.22 feet above the ground—the highest pitch a Royals player has homered on since 2008, according to pitch tracking data. After a slow start with a .196 average, the 22-year-old, who was the sixth overall pick in the 2024 draft, has begun to show the power that made him a top prospect. The Royals have recently shuffled their lineup to make room for Caglianone, and his home run was met with the traditional silent treatment before captain Salvador Perez congratulated him. Manager Matt Quatraro and teammates remain optimistic about his potential as he continues to adjust to major league pitching. The team is hopeful that Caglianone’s power surge will help boost their playoff ambitions.