Kansas City has a real one in Jac Caglianone, and the numbers keep backing it up.
The Royals’ young slugger is hitting .274/.325/.494 with an .819 OPS, and he’s pacing the club with 22 home runs and 58 RBIs. What’s making the run stand out now is that it doesn’t feel like a brief surge anymore. In the latest episode of “One Royal Way,” host Joel Penfield broke down why Caglianone’s recent stretch looks like something more lasting.
One of the biggest examples came against new Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal at Dodger Stadium. Penfield highlighted Caglianone’s work in two-strike counts, including a run-scoring hit up the middle before he later jumped on a hanging slider and sent it out for a home run.
Penfield also zeroed in on what Caglianone has done since the All-Star break. The 23-year-old outfielder/first baseman has cut down on his strikeouts, and that’s been a notable development after it was a point of attention coming out of his rookie season last year.
Even with the bat heating up, Penfield made it clear he’s not treating Caglianone’s offensive game like a finished product. The biggest issue, in his view, is plate discipline and the lack of walks. He said Caglianone doesn’t need to become a highly patient hitter, but the concern is how often he swings.
Still, Penfield’s overall takeaway was pretty direct: the breakout is real. He sees Caglianone becoming the kind of middle-of-the-order power bat the Royals need, the type who could slot in behind Bobby Witt Jr. for years. He even went a step further and said Kansas City should start thinking about a long-term contract extension for Caglianone.
The episode also shifted to September and how the Royals can use it to figure out what they have for 2027. Penfield mentioned offensive players Gavin Cross, Matthew Lugo, Brett Squires and Jacob Berry, while Lucas Braun and Carlos Duran came up on the pitching side.
Penfield said he’s not especially concerned about the Royals’ offense going into 2027. The bigger worry for him is the pitching staff.
In Other News...
Royals Cannot Ignore This Lineup Need If They Want To Contend
The Royals offseason checklist is already starting to take shape, and second base looks like one of the spots they cannot afford to leave untouched if they want to move back toward contention. Pitching will get plenty of attention, but the infield picture matters too, especially with Michael Massey serving as the primary option at second and showing improvement from a year ago without quite reaching the level a contender needs.
Massey has given Kansas City a clearer answer than it had before, but not necessarily the long-term one it wants. The organization has reason to keep evaluating how he fits best as it weighs upgrades for next season, and that opens the door to a bigger decision about whether he stays anchored at second or becomes part of a broader roster reshuffle aimed at raising the ceiling. [Read more 🡒]
Jac Caglianone May Be Giving The Royals What They Needed Most
Jac Caglianone kept giving the Royals the sort of middle-of-the-order production they have been searching for, and it came at the right time against the Angels. The first baseman delivered a two-run homer and later added an RBI single in Kansas Citys 7-6 win, helping snap a four-game skid while also extending his hitting streak to 12 games.
For a club trying to steady itself, the timing matters as much as the numbers, and Caglianones career-high five RBIs were a big part of why this one tilted the Royals way. Kansas City has now won four straight against Los Angeles, a small but meaningful run of success as the lineup starts to find some traction behind one of its most productive young bats. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Could Be Near A Huge Lineup Boost From Two Regulars
Maikel Garcia and Vinnie Pasquantino took another meaningful step back toward Kansas City on Friday night, each getting a full game in on rehab assignments as the Royals keep waiting for two regulars to work their way back into the lineup. Garcia handled third base for Double-A Northwest Arkansas and found his timing at the plate with three hits, while Pasquantino was back at first base for Triple-A Omaha and went 1-for-4.
For a club that can use help wherever it can find it, the encouraging part is not just that both players are on the field again, but that they are being tested in game action rather than limited to lighter work. Garcia has been building back after a left hand muscle strain, and Pasquantino is working his way through recovery from right wrist soreness, leaving the Royals with one more stretch of patience before those lineup pieces come into focus. [Read more 🡒]