Jac Caglianone debut: Slugging Royals rookie reveals promise regardless of going hitless in first MLB look

The Jac Caglianone period is underway for the Royals. Tuesday night, Kansas City’s No. 1 prospect made his big-league debut towards the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium after solely 79 minor-league video games. Solely Bo Jackson, who performed 53 video games within the minors, performed fewer minor-league video games earlier than making his MLB debut amongst Royals’ place gamers, according to the team.

Caglianone, the No. 6 general decide in final summer season’s draft, batted sixth and began at DH in his MLB debut. In his first at-bat, he roped a line drive to heart discipline that Victor Scott II ran down with a leaping catch. In his second at-bat, Nolan Arenado took away a success with a pleasant backhand play. Welcome to the large leagues, Jac. They do not play protection like this in Triple-A.

All informed, Caglianone went 0 for five in his MLB debut Tuesday. He lined out to Scott in his first at-bat, grounded out to Arenado in his second at-bat, grounded out to first in his third at-bat, hit into one other good Arenado play in his fourth at-bat, and grounded out to second in his fifth at-bat. Caglianone didn’t appear overwhelmed — if something, he made good contact and received robbed by Scott and Arenado. An encouraging 0 for five, you might say.

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R.J. Anderson

The remainder of the Royals stole the highlight from Caglianone with an exhilarating comeback towards their in-state rivals. The Cardinals had a 7-2 lead after three innings towards Michael Lorenzen, then Kansas Metropolis put collectively a six-run fifth inning to take the lead. They added a number of insurance coverage runs late and scored eight unanswered runs after falling behind 7-2. The Royals received Caglianone’s debut 10-7 (box score).

Caglianone will possible see most of his time at first base and DH, not less than initially. These have been his main positions within the minors. The Royals have uncovered Caglianone to the outfield some, notably proper discipline, although it is solely 14 whole video games of outfield expertise within the minors. The outfield is a serious weak spot in Kansas Metropolis and might be Caglianone’s long-term dwelling.

Earlier this week our R.J. Anderson looked at Caglianone’s game and famous that though he has elite energy, there are some issues about his strategy (and short-term positional match) that might forestall him from making a right away influence. Nonetheless, Kansas Metropolis’s offense has been so weak this 12 months that it is price giving a participant with Caglianone’s pop a attempt.

Here is the place the Royals ranked in varied offensive classes coming into play Tuesday:

The Royals are hitting for a good common, not less than relative to this low common period, however they do not stroll they usually do not hit for energy. Each different group has hit not less than 43 homers this 12 months. That is an issue and one the Royals hope Caglianone can repair. Tuesday’s win was solely the fourth time of their final 22 video games that the Royals scored greater than 4 runs. That merely will not be sufficient.

Regardless of the beneath common offense, Tuesday’s win improved the Royals to 32-29 this season. Their pitching has been excellent. Kansas Metropolis’s workers entered Tuesday ranked fourth amongst all groups with a 3.23 ERA and eight.6 pitching WAR.