Royals star Jac Caglianone has gone from super struggles to Silver Slugger finalist 

Before he became the Kansas City Royals’ first-round selection in the 2024 MLB Draft, many scouts already figured that Jac Caglianone would have a bright future in the big leagues. But they might not have predicted just how quickly that bright future would become a reality. In just his second season in Major League Baseball, Caglianone is now a finalist for a Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award as an outfielder. 

On November 5, Caglianone was announced as one of three Royals to be named as a finalist for the hotly-contested award. He is joined by shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and rookie catcher Carter Jensen. While each player has earned their place as a finalist, Caglianone's potential path to the award may be the most impressive of the three. 

Yes, Jensen could become the first Royals rookie to ever win a Silver Slugger and collect yet another award. And Witt Jr. could become just the third player in franchise history to win the award at least three times. However, Caglianone has come a very long way in a short amount of time to clinch his spot. This time last year, fans were already questioning how long of a leash the 23-year-old outfielder would be afforded this season. 

What a difference a year can make. Caglianone has gone from a liability at the plate to the Royals’ lone bright spot in the outfield.  

Jac Caglianone has become a staple in the Royals’ lineup

During his rookie campaign in 2025, Caglianone excelled at swinging the bat harder than nearly every other player in the league. But that’s about all he did well at the plate. In 210 at-bats, Caglianone sported a ghastly .157/.237/.295 slash line. He was only able to muster 14 extra-base hits, seven of which were home runs. Thanks to that effort, he accrued -1.6 fWAR on the season, the second-worst mark in baseball. A far cry from getting any Silver Slugger consideration.  

To his credit, Caglianone made sure that his immensely frustrating rookie season would not be what fans remembered most about his career. He put the work in during the offseason and it showed throughout 2026. His wRC+ of 129 was nearly three times higher than it was last season. Caglianone’s .289 batting average was the highest among all right fielders in the American League. His 23 home runs and 75 RBI weren’t too shabby either.   

If there is any player on the Royals who best represents the role of a slugger, it is Caglianone. You can just see it with how hard he hits the ball every time he puts it in play. With an average exit velocity of 93.3 mph, Caglianone was in the 97th percentile of all MLB hitters. That’s higher than long ball connoisseur and fellow Silver Slugger finalist Kyle Schwarber. With time and a developing power swing, Caglianone may even one day approach the same home run numbers as Schwarber.   

During his rookie season, Caglianone would have been hard-pressed to perform any worse at the plate. It would have been understandable for a young player who struggled that much to start doubting their own ability. However, Caglianone managed to take his struggles in stride and learn from them. As a result, he could become the 12th Royals player in franchise history to take home a Silver Slugger Award when the winners are announced on November 17. 

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow