The news we have all been waiting for finally came through this weekend: top prospect Jac Caglianone has been promoted to Kansas City. Last year, Jac Caglianone was selected by the Royals with the sixth pick in the draft after a dominant career at Florida. Caglianone ranks as the tenth-best prospect in the MLB and the best prospect the Royals have seen since Bobby Witt Jr. He will now get his chance to play in the major leagues on Tuesday.
The Royals hope Caglianone can make a significant impact in an offense that has been nothing short of terrible so far in 2025. The Royals rank 29th in runs per game (3.23), 26th in team OPS (.660), and dead last in walks (142) and home runs (34). The Royals’ approach at the plate has consistently been to put the ball in play, but they still sit middle of the pack (12th) in total hits and simply have not gotten the production they need offensively.
Right now, the Royals are at an impasse, as they are not hitting for any power, but are not getting on base at a high rate either, which almost certainly is a recipe for failure in the MLB. The Royals looked to call up other players, such as John Rave and Nick Loftin, both of whom have made an impact, but the offense still ranks. Over their last 543 ABs, the Royals have hit a total of five home runs, whereas Caglianone has hit six home runs over his last 45 ABs.
The Royals needed to make a change, and Jac Caglianone forced their hand. Jac started the year in AA, where he hit .322/.394/.553 and was called up to Omaha on May 19th. In Omaha, Caglianone’s production saw a step up, hitting .319/.370/.723, and in just two weeks, Jac found his way to the big leagues. The Royals have high hopes for Caglianone, and the hope is that he will provide some much-needed power to the middle of the order.
The biggest question now becomes, where does Caglianone fit into the lineup? A question that feels like it should have an easy answer, with how poorly the Royals’ offense has played so far this year, but as you look at it, there is no clear spot for him in the order. Kansas City did not call Caglianone up just to drop him to the bottom of the order, and they will have to find a spot for him at the top of the lineup.
The first five hitters for the Royals have been somewhat consistent throughout 2025, with the batting order on most days consisting of:
- Jonathan India
- Bobby Witt Jr
- Vinnie Pasquantino
- Salvador Perez
- Maikel Garcia
I think it is likely India and Witt hold onto their roles at the top of the order. Vinnie Paquantino has gotten hot recently, making him the ideal third hitter to complement the two righties at the top of the order. From there on, Caglianone could hit anywhere from 4-6, with some people even saying he should hit three, and Vinnie can move to 4 or 5. Regardless, Matt Quatraro likes to mix up the lineup, and won’t love the idea of two lefties back to back, making it hard to find the perfect spot for Caglianone in the order. So what’s to do?
My personal opinion would involve some shuffling of the batting order, but would end up with Caglianone hitting in the five-hole going forward. Jonathan India has an OBP just shy of .330 right now, and I don’t see a reason for him to leave the leadoff role just yet. With Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino following him, the first three hitters remain the same.
The four-hole is where I think the Royals should make their first major change. I think it is unlikely Matt Quatraro will follow Vinnie with another lefty, and the team could stick with Salvador Perez in the cleanup spot. But I propose Maikel Garcia moving up one spot and Caglianone following him at five. This sets the Royals up with R, R, L, R, L, R hitters at the top of their lineup day in and day out, the alternation that Matt Quatraro likes to see from his everyday guys at the top of the order.
With the success of Maikel Garcia, the Royals have to find a way to get him more key ABs. Many have proposed that he be the leadoff hitter, but due to his struggles in that role last year, and Jonatahn India’s very respectable .328 OBP, I don’t see a reason to make that change yet. Garcia leads the team in AVG, OBP, and OPS, and can be the perfect option to drive in base runners. He won’t need to hit home runs as much as drive in runners with quality hits that he has proven to be capable of this year.
Salvador Perez has struggled to hit for power this season, but his legendary status in Kansas City has earned him a spot in the order going forward. Salvy has not hit home runs, but has been able to hit singles and doubles, while also having a better approach at the plate. Moving him down in the order may make him and the offense a little bit more productive and may stop him from pressing to hit for power.
The last thing that I think makes this the ideal lineup is the protection for Jac Caglianone to struggle some. The Royals can not rely on Jac to turn the offense around, and he may struggle as he adjusts to the major leagues. Cushioning him with Maikel Garcia before him, and Salvador Perez behind him, feels like the ideal way for him to make the transition into the MLB.
With this order, Jonathan India can continue to focus on getting on base, Bobby Witt Jr can continue to be himself, and Vinnie Pasquantino can continue being an RBI machine. Maikel Garcia will get several high-leverage ABs, Caglianone can hit for power and make the adjustment from AAA to the MLB, while Salvador Perez can take some pressure off himself and may find his rhythm once again.
As of now, no one knows where Caglianone will hit going forward, and tomorrow will be the start of his MLB career. Regardless of where he is hitting, all eyes will be on the young star with hopes that he can be the next rookie sensation in Kansas City.
