Did Jac Caglianone get drafted? Looking at Florida baseball star's MLB Draft 2024 selection
Yes, Jac Caglianone was drafted in the 2024 MLB Draft. The Kansas City Royals selected the Florida Gators two-way star with the sixth pick of the draft.
Let's look at the Florida baseball star's MLB Draft 2024 selection.
Why did the Kansas City Royals draft Jac Caglianone?
Caglianone was projected by many draft outlets to be selected in the top-five. However, he remained undrafted when the Kansas City Royals were on the clock. Hence, it shouldn't be surprising that the Royals selected the best available player on the board.
The Royals are getting one of the best two-way collegiate baseball players of the past decade in Jac Caglianone. He was viewed as a high-end prospect, both a pitcher and a hitter, so it will be interesting to see how the Royals utilize his skill set.
Caglianone led the country with 33 home runs last year and hit .419/.544/.875 with 35 home runs this season. He's regarded as the best power hitter in the draft, and his strength should translate to the next level.
Furthermore, Caglianone won the 2024 John Olerud Award given to the nation's top two-way collegiate baseball player, racking up a 4.76 ERA with 83 strikeouts in 73.2 innings on the mound.
He frequently reaches triple digits with his fastball and has the potential of three quality off-speed offerings. However, his pitching command is inconsistent, so he might have a more probable future as a first baseman rather than a pitcher.
What do media outlets think of Jac Caglianone on the Kansas City Royals?
The general consensus is that the Kansas City Royals have selected Jac Caglianone smartly as the sixth pick of the 2024 MLB Draft.
Bleacher Report graded the pick an A+, with their analyst highlighting the Royals as one of the teams ready to give Caglianone the chance to be a true two-way player.
Sporting News gave the pick an A, with their analyst praising Caglianone's high upside as a hitter. However, his lack of control as a pitcher was mentioned, and Caglianone will likely become a specialist hitter when all is said and done.
CBS Sports gave the pick a B, playing it safe.