With the sixth pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, the Kansas City Royals selected Jac Caglianone, a first baseman and left-handed pitcher from Florida.
Caglianone is the best two-way player available in the draft after a sparkling career with the Gators, where he became the school's all-time leader in home runs. Though he's considered a better hitter than pitcher, with 70-grade power and 55-grade hit tools, Caglianone said the Royals plan to let him continue as a two-way player.
"I'm very thankful they're giving me the opportunity to do both," he told Anne Rogers of MLB.com. "I won't let them down."
"I'm super excited to be in this organization. I'm just ready to get to work."
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 15, 2024
- @Royals #6 overall pick Jac Caglianone@GatorsBB | #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/1rNy8VTtH1
Bio
Age: 21
Position: 1B/P
Height/Weight: 6-5, 250 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/L
School: Florida
Pick value (6th): $7,213,800
Tools
- Massive 70-grade power
- Seventy-grade fastball as pitcher
- Potential two-way player
Why fans will love this player
- Touches triple digits as pitcher
- Physical specimen who hits long home runs
Things he'll need to overcome
- Projected second-rounder if he only pitched
- Chases pitches out of zone as hitter
- Had Tommy John surgery in 2021
