Jac Caglianone has an impressive first spring camp with the Royals, hitting hit three homers and posting a 1.871 OPS across 17 Cactus League at-bats this spring. [Photo: Sports@CJC]

Gators in the Pros: Catching Up with Royals Top Prospect Jac Caglianone

SURPRISE, Ariz. — In the past 12 months, Jac Caglianone has gone from representing the University of Florida in front of thousands of fans any given weekend to playing in front of mere hundreds out in the middle of America. But he hasn’t let this adjustment get to his head. At the end of the day, he still has one goal in mind above all else: staking his claim as an all-time great in the making.

After a historic career at Florida — one that featured a program-record 75 career home runs — Caglianone has already made a name for himself as a top prospect for the Kansas City Royals. After being selected by sixth overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, he has quickly made his way through the Royals farm system. Caglianone started the 2025 campaign with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the Royals’ Double-A affiliate, as he’s seemingly on the cusp of hearing his name called up to the major leagues any day now.

In the meantime, Sports@CJC had a chance to sit down with Caglianone during 2025 MLB Spring Training at the Royals’ facility in Surprise, where he discussed everything from his first year as a pro to his favorite post-game meals.

1. What would you say have been the most notable differences between college ball and minor league ball from what you’ve seen so far?

Caglianone: I’d say it’s pretty similar, to be honest with you, the biggest thing for me was just finding a routine. You know, at school, it’s so structured where you basically have everything that you’re going to do that day time-slotted and lined up for you.

Here, it’s on you. So you’ve got to figure out your routine. That’s probably what took me the longest to figure out, was what my routine was, just because I’ve gotten used to having it all kind of laid out.

2. How would you describe the Kansas City organization so far, your experiences with them? What’s that all been like for you, just working your way through the through the ladder here?

Caglianone: They’ve been nothing but great, to be honest with you. The communication is crystal clear, all these guys in the locker room and the culture here that they’ve created is really special. You know, I’m thankful that I played in college, because I know what the college locker room is like now, and that’s kind of what it feels like.

So, you know, it’s very fun. These guys care about you. It’s not very individual. So I’m super blessed to be with this organization.

Jac Caglianone holds Florida’s career home run record with 75, surpassing Matt LaPorta’s record of 74. [Photo: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images]

3. Where would you say you’ve come the farthest, either on or off the field, since you left Gainesville and have continued making your way up through the minors?

Caglianone: Really, just not forgetting what got me here, I guess, not losing that competitive edge. You go from playing at Condron in front of five-plus thousand, and then you go to Davenport, Iowa, and you’re playing in front of 500. It’s tougher to keep that same, I guess, edge.

So figuring that out has been fun, especially the spring training. Being able to go and play with countless other big leaguers and be with a bunch of fans. It felt like, felt like home. So it was nice.

4. You originally said in the past that you were still open to playing two-way ball in the majors. Would you say you’re still leaving the door open for potentially pitching down the road, or are you focused on being a position player right now?

Caglianone: Right now, it’s just solely focused on the hitting. I don’t think the door is closed, to be honest with you, but right now, they said that it’s probably best to just focus on the hitting side of things, the defensive side of things, just for the first camp, and I 100% agreed. It’s a lot of work, it’s very hectic days out here.

5. Are there any players you’d say you model your game the most after?

Caglianone: Pitching, I always wanted to be like David Price, and then hitting, [Bryce] Harper.

Jac Caglianone was the sixth overall pick of the 2024 MLB draft by the Kansas City Royals. [Photo: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images]

6. Do you have any particular go-to pregame music?

Caglianone: Country. I’m on a Zach Top kick right now… I like his stuff, it’s like Alan Jackson.

7. What’s the worst city you’ve ever been to traveling for baseball?

Caglianone: Beloit, Wisconsin… I don’t even know where it is on a map.

8. And your favorite fast food chain, if you have one?

Caglianone: Culver’s. I’d go there after every road series whenever we’d come back from Gainesville. I’d hit that up every day.

9. Last question here. If you could talk to your young self right now, what would you tell him?

Caglianone: Just keep going. Don’t be an idiot… focus on baseball, and you’ll be just fine.

More Gators in the Pros:
* Wyatt Langford Looking to Take Next Step After Big Rookie Year
* Jonathan India Adjusting to Life With Royals After Trade
* A.J. Puk Starting to Feel Comfortable in Deep D’backs ‘Pen
* Dane Dunning on Winning a World Series, His Time With UF
* Hurston Waldrep Working on Getting Back to ‘The Show’ in Atlanta

Category: Cactus League, Gators in the Pros, Kansas City Royals, Top Stories