The Kansas City Royals are making a significant move to bolster their struggling offense by calling up top prospect Jac Caglianone. Following a 1-0 defeat against the Detroit Tigers, the Royals, holding a 31-29 record, are in dire need of offensive reinforcement, having scored just 194 runs in 60 games, a statistic only surpassed by the historically poor Colorado Rockies.
Caglianone, who was drafted in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of Florida, has been impressive in the minors. He has a batting average of .323 and an OPS of .991, with 15 home runs and 56 RBIs across 49 games in Double-A and Triple-A. While the Royals aim to leverage his hitting prowess, there are concerns about his transition to the outfield, where he is still acclimating to the defensive demands of the position, especially given the organization’s emphasis on outfield defense.
This decision comes after the recent designation of Hunter Renfroe, who struggled with a .483 OPS over 35 games. Drew Waters currently stands as the best-performing outfielder but only boasts a .703 OPS, underscoring the need for Caglianone to make an immediate impact as the Royals look to stay competitive in the American League Central.
