​When the Kansas City Royals selected Jac Caglianone with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft, they were betting that his extraordinary power would translate into major-league impact on a large scale. In his second full big-league season in 2026, that power is beginning to flourish in the manner the Royals envisioned, particularly in recent weeks. Caglianone’s breakout season earned him a prime stage to showcase his power on MLB’s biggest stage.
During a Wednesday appearance on MLB Network, Caglianone revealed that he will participate in the Home Run Derby the Monday before the All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. When Mark DeRosa asked who would be pitching to him, Caglianone did not hesitate: his father, Jeff, will be throwing the pitches. He emphasized that his father will likely remain unfazed by the spotlight, noting, “He’s got ice in his veins.” Caglianone added that his father previously pitched to him in the Fall League Home Run Derby, and now they’re teaming up again for this high-profile event. “It’s going to be great,” he said.
The left-handed slugger is coming off the strongest month of his young career in June. Before June, over 54 games, he had produced five home runs with a .236 batting average. But the calendar turned, and June brought a dramatic surge: nine homers and a jump in his average to .289. In that standout month, Caglianone batted .309 and posted a robust 1.036 OPS. These numbers could mark the dawn of a breakout season for the 23-year-old outfielder, a development the Royals have long anticipated.
Beyond the impressive statistics, Caglianone has demonstrated power in ways that are especially threatening to opposing pitchers. He consistently hits the ball with exceptional exit velocity, ranking near the top of the league in both average exit velocity and max exit velocity. In addition to his hard contact, his raw power is evident in the distance he generates—an average home run distance of 418 feet, a figure tied for the longest in baseball and poised to put on a show in Philadelphia.
Although he wasn’t selected for the All-Star Game roster, Caglianone’s profile makes him an ideal Derby participant. He joins a field that includes Junior Caminero, Ben Rice, and Willson Contreras, with Caglianone in prime position to become the youngest Derby champion in the event’s history. This year’s Derby field also marks the Royals’ return to the event’s spotlight, as Caglianone follows in the footsteps of Bobby Witt Jr., who represented Kansas City in 2024 and posted an eye-popping 50-home-run performance as the runner-up in Texas.
Caglianone’s home-run derby appearance not only highlights his individual progress but also underscores the Royals’ belief that his extraordinary power can translate into sustained success at the major-league level. If June is any indication, the 2026 season could be the turning point when the Royals’ early faith in Caglianone’s potential is realized in a big way, both in the regular season and on the sport’s grand stage in Philadelphia.