KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals are calling up their top prospect, Jac Caglianone, to the majors, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Sunday night. The 22-year-old slugger, drafted just last year, is set to join the big-league club as the Royals aim to revitalize their underperforming offense.
The Kansas City Royals are calling up slugger Jac Caglianone, one of the top prospects in baseball, sources tell ESPN. Caglianone, 22, is hitting .322/.389/.593 with 15 home runs and 56 RBIs in 50 games between AA and AAA.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 2, 2025
Report: Royals to Call Up Top Prospect Jac Caglianone
Caglianone, selected sixth overall by the Royals in the 2024 MLB Draft out of the University of Florida, has torched minor-league pitching since turning pro. In 2025, across Double-A and Triple-A, he slashed .322/.389/.593 with 15 home runs in 50 games. Across his short minor league stint, he clubbed 17 home runs, 18 doubles, and drove in 70 RBI in 315 at-bats, showcasing the raw power that made him a two-way star in college. After a scorching stretch of five homers in four games over his first week with Triple-A Omaha, the Royals decided the time was right.
Rare Air
This rapid ascent to the majors is a rare occurrence. Since 2010, only a handful of position players—such as Bryce Harper (2012), Juan Soto (2018), and most recently Paul Skenes (2024)—made it to the big leagues within a year of being drafted, according to MLB Pipeline data. Caglianone’s 11-month climb from the draft to the majors places him among the fastest risers in recent memory, a testament to his prodigious talent and the Royals’ urgent need for offensive help.
Caglianone Fills Royals’ Outfield Gap
The Royals plan to deploy Caglianone primarily in right field, addressing a glaring power weakness in their outfield. So far this season, the Kansas City outfield has produced a meager .236/.285/.332 slashline, per ESPN stats. He’ll also see time at first base, offering flexibility as Kansas City fights to stay in the AL Central race.
“He’s ready to make an impact,” Royals GM J.J. Picollo told Passan. “Jac’s power is undeniable, and we believe he can help us right now while growing into a cornerstone for this franchise.”
Jac Caglianone Welcome To The Show!
He is hitting.322/.389/.593 with 15 home runs and 56 RBIs in 50 games between AA and AAA.pic.twitter.com/06760URv1f
— Running From The OPS (@OPS_BASEBALL) June 2, 2025
Caglianone will debut early this week, but the Royals haven’t announced corresponding roster moves yet. The team, desperate for offense, could see a game-changing impact from their massive 6-foot-5, 250-pound prospect. This gutsy, desperate, but necessary call-up might launch the Royals to back-to-back postseason runs. They currently lie one game back in the AL Wild Card race.
Photo Credit: © Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
