From Gator Great to Future Kansas City Royalty: Jac Caglianone’s Baseball Journey

Around this time last year, Jac Caglianone was blasting moon shots over the walls of Condron Ballpark. On any given weekend, thousands of fans would pour into the stadium to get a glimpse of one of the greatest baseball players in Florida Gators history.

Fast forward to the present day, and Caglianone is still putting on a show — albeit, in front of a slightly smaller crowd. The former Florida phenom was selected sixth overall in the 2024 MLB Draft by the Kansas City Royals last July. Since then, he’s steadily worked his way through the team’s minor league system. Caglianone is currently suiting up for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, Kansas City’s AA affiliate, and has already looked the part of a big-leaguer in the making.

“We talk every day. He’s a hell of a person. He’s young, but he acts like he’s, you know, 30 years old already,” Kansas City shortstop and former Florida baseball player Jonathan India said. “He’s got his stuff figured out, for sure.”

In the Naturals’ first 28 games of the 2025 season, Caglianone has compiled a .330 batting average and 1.012 OPS, all while knocking out eight home runs and tallying 31 RBI. That’s been aided by an impressive last three games, where he’s batted 6-for-10 with four homers and seven RBIs. On April 23, he even two hits — including a double off the wall — off future Hall of Fame pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who was pitching in the minors on a rehab assignment. While most players fresh out of college take more time to adjust to playing pro-level ball, Caglianone seems comfortable in Northwest Arkansas.

“I’d say it’s pretty similar [minor league and SEC baseball], to be honest with you, the biggest thing for me was just finding a routine,” he said. “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 … That’s probably what took me the longest to figure out: what my routine was.”

Since leading Florida to a College World Series semifinals berth in 2024, Caglianone’s world has been essentially turned upside down – and in the best way possible. He called his selection to Kansas City “the best day of his life so far,” as he rejoiced the news surrounded by family, friends and coaches.  Also in attendance for the celebration: Caglianone’s fiancée and former Florida volleyball player Elli McKissock. The Gators couple got engaged in December and are set to marry in the coming months.

Within days of reining in the good news with his loved ones, Caglianone packed his bags and flew out west to begin his pro career. The 22-year-old first baseman was initially rattled by the differences between Gainesville and his new minor league homes. As he’s made his way up the organizational ladder with the Royals, Caglianone has played in Davenport, Iowa; Surprise, Arizona; and now, Springdale, Arkansas.

Nevertheless, even as he makes his way through the heart of the country from one minor league destination to another, Caglianone has continued making efforts to hold onto the competitive spirit and fire that made him a household name.

“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,” he said. “It’s tougher to keep that same, I guess, edge.”

Perhaps Caglianone’s biggest splash in the pros came in spring training this year. Appearing alongside the Royals’ primary squad, the highly touted prospect hit for .500 across 18 at-bats while belting out three home runs and recording seven RBIs. When the dust settled on his time out in the desert, Caglianone finished with a 1.776 OPS – a number that, despite the limited sample size of 14 games, could be indicative of what’s to come.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro can’t believe what he’s seen from his organization’s top-ranked prospect this spring. While declining to provide a definite timetable for Caglianone’s potential promotion to the pros, the Kansas City skipper said he hopes to see him playing major league ball sooner rather than later.

“He’s very well-rounded, he takes really good at-bats for a guy that has that power,” Quatraro said. “He can work a walk, he can hit the ball the other way, drives the ball to all fields – he looks like he’s going to be a good hitter on top of having the power.”

With all of the whirlwind action and constant change in Caglianone’s life today, he’s continued to rely on one pillar that served him well throughout his college career: his faith. A devout Christian, Caglianone emphasized how large of a role his religious beliefs have played in his transition to professional play.

“Honestly, [my faith is] probably stronger than ever,” Caglianone said. “With me and Ellie doing the whole long distance and family being farther away, it’s just one of those things where I can’t do it on my own. [God] is always there for me to lean on him, so that’s just kind of who I’ve been talking to a lot.”

Caglianone also noted that he has a sizable group of friends who he consults with regarding faith-related matters. Additionally, several players in the Royals organization attended chapel every Saturday during spring training, something which he regularly joined in.

Despite the hype around his name reaching a fever pitch, Caglianone went back down to the minors near the end of spring camp. Even then, all signs point towards a major league call-up coming in the foreseeable future.

Yet, with his dream on the horizon, Caglianone is making sure to stay focused on why he fell in love with baseball in the first place. After all, he’s still just 22 years old and has his entire future ahead of him. For now, Caglianone is enjoying his time out west and taking things one game at a time.

“Just never lose the way you felt as a kid playing the game, really,” he said. “The more you start worrying about the future, it kind of takes away from what’s going on in the now. I’m not worried about it. Everything is going to take care of yourself, I keep saying that, but I’m a firm believer in it. You know, I can just handle what I can handle today, and that’s all you can do.”

More CJCxARZ Spring Training Coverage:
* Rangers Star Langford Quietly Making Major Noise With Bat in Year 2
* Building a Culture: How Royals Are Preparing, Developing Their Prospects
* Catching Up with Royals Top Prospect Jac Caglianone
* Jonathan India Adjusting to Life With Royals After Trade
* Man vs. Machine: MLB’s Automated Ball-Strike Spring Experiment Shows Game’s Evolution

Category: Cactus League, Kansas City Royals
Tagged: Florida Baseball Jac Caglianone Kansas City Royals Matt Quatraro MLB MLB Spring Training Spring Training