For years, Kansas City Royals fans have been waiting for Jac Caglianone. Ever since he was drafted with the sixth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, he has been the most hyped up prospect in the Royals system. He even became the number one overall prospect in their system during the 2025 season, according to MLB Pipeline. So when he made his major league debut last year and struggled, there was a little disappointment. Many had hoped he would be a different maker from day one.
But it has been a different story during the 2026 season. Caglianone has been one of the best hitters in the Royals lineup. Through 74 games this season, he has slashed .277/.349/.498 with 14 home runs, 30 RBIs, and an OPS+ of 136. A dramatic turnaround from what it was last season. What has caught everyone’s attention, however, is what he did in June. But how good has he been, and what has allowed him to have a great sophomore season?
Jac Caglianone Has Established Himself as a Star
Without question, Caglianone has been the best hitter in the majors over the past month. Over his last 30 games, he has slashed .315/.392/.586 with nine home runs and 20 RBIs. This hot streak is a large reason why his stats look as good as they do. Before June started, he had a slash line of .236/.303/.382. So in little under a month, he has raised all three of those stats by over 40 points. That is a very hard feat to pull off and shows Caglianone can make adjustments mid-season.
What makes it even more impressive is the company he is in with some of his performances. Over the last five games, he has hit six home runs over 100 mph per hour, three of which were over 110 mph. The only player who has hit more home runs over 110 mph this month is Nick Kurtz. In his last 14 games, he has had three multiple-home run games and three games where he reached base four times. The only other 23-year-old to do that was Reggie Jackson. Anytime you’re in the same conversation as Jackson, you’re doing something right.
A big reason for Caglianone’s success this season is the quality of his contact with the ball. According to Baseball Savant, he had a 12 Barrel% and a 42.4 HardHit%. But in 2026, these numbers have jumped significantly. He has a Barrel% of 17 and a HardHit % of 58.5. His HardHit% ranks in the 98th percentile among major league hitters this season. This increase in contact quality has turned what would’ve been flyouts last night into extra-base hits and home runs.
This breakout is establishing Caglianone as one of the most important players on the Royals. With them currently 12 games under .500 and dead last in the AL Central, they have players to build around. They already have Bobby Witt Jr., who is easily the face of the franchise. But they need the supporting cast around him. This is a role that Caglianone fits nicely. He can provide nice protection for Witt in the lineup. It also takes some of the pressure off a Witt knowing he does not have to do all the heavy lifting on offense.
Without question, we are currently watching Caglianone’s breakout. If he can keep up this level of production, he will quickly become one of the best players in baseball.
