Jac Caglianone Given Huge Comparison to Ohtani, Judge
Jac Caglianone Given Huge Comparison to Ohtani, Judge originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Jac Caglianone, former Florida Gators first baseman and the No. 6 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft to the Kansas City Royals has been called up to play in the big leagues after dominating AA and AAA ball.
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In his 50 games in AA and AAA, Caglianone was hitting .322/.389/.593 with 15 home runs as well as 56 RBIs, and is now ready to make his long awaited jump to the MLB.
ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan spoke on the Pat McAfee Show about Caglianone, and gave him high praise as he enters the biggest part of his professional career, as well as a comparison to some of the biggest stars in baseball.
Florida Gators first baseman Jac Caglianone (14) singles against the Texas A&M Aggies during the eighth inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha during the College World Series.Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images
"He is a guy who has the kind of power that Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani have, and there are very few guys in baseball who can say that," said Passan.
It seems outlandish to compare a 22-year-old prospect to the likes of Ohtani and Judge, but the stats have spoken for themselves as of now. His power is undeniable and he can make contact with the ball regardless of where the pitch gets thrown.
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After switching from first base to an outfield role (left and right field) in the minor leagues, that is a significant adjustment that is probably delaying his call up to the majors until now.
Where they will be playing Caglianone has yet to be determined, but outfield, first base, and even designated hitter are all possibilities for him, and his added height at 6-foot-5 should help him adjust to any of them.
Royals fans finally get a glimpse of their bright future with another incredible prospect. Adding him to a lineup with Bobby Witt Jr. certainly creates a lot of excitement for a team looking to push past their 31-29 record.
On an off day on June 2, the Royals and Caglianone have the time to get acclimated more before they travel to St. Louis to face the Cardinals. Should he get in the lineup immediately, his first home game will be June 10 where they will be playing the New York Yankees.
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Related: Former Florida Commit Riley Greene Makes MLB History on Friday
Related: DJ Lagway Expected to be Throwing to Elite WR in 2025
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
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