Kansas City Royals top prospect Jac Caglianone is headed to the Arizona Fall League.
Caglianone, who was selected sixth overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, will play for the Surprise Saguaros in October. He headlines a list of nine Royals prospects set to receive additional work this offseason.
“I think it’s just getting more experience in professional baseball,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said. “He is an advanced college hitter and it’s another chance to get more at-bats in an extended season and face better competition.”
The Royals will also send Carter Jensen (No. 5), Daniel Vazquez (No. 23), Luinder Avila (No. 25), Brett Squires, Chazz Martinez, Shane Panzini, Anthony Simonelli and Brandon Johnson to play with the Saguaros.
The Saguaros are comprised of minor-league prospects from the Royals, Houston Astros, Cleveland Guardians, Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers. The club will seek its third consecutive Arizona Fall League championship.
Caglianone began his professional career with High-A Quad Cities. He hit .241 with two home runs, nine doubles and 14 RBIs in 29 games.
There were several highlights. Caglianone hit a grand slam to register his first minor-league home run against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
“We felt like he was ready for that challenge and we will see how he does,” Picollo said.
Jensen started with Quad Cities and was promoted to Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He hit .259 with 18 home runs and 67 RBIs while posting an .809 OPS (on-base plus slugging) in 125 minor-league games.
“I think it was great to see him jump from High-A to Double-A,” Picollo said. “He went through some typical learning curve in Double-A and responded really well. He has an advanced approach to hitting and he will see better pitching.
“He is on a good track. When players can make a jump in the middle of the season, that’s always a good thing. This is just another step for him.”
Squires is another intriguing prospect. He was named a High-A Midwest League All-Star after a terrific 2024 campaign. The versatile infielder hit .309 with nine home runs, 42 RBIs and 16 stolen bases.
Squires was named the Quad Cities Player of the Month for May and June respectively.
The Saguaros will begin play on Oct. 7 against the Mesa Solar Sox. Notable Royals pitchers Alec Marsh and Daniel Lynch IV have made game appearances in the league.
Here is a full list of the Royals participants:
1B Jac Caglianone (High-A Quad Cities)
C Carter Jensen (Double-A Northwest Arkansas)
INF Brett Squires (High-A Quad Cities)
INF Daniel Vazquez (Single-A Columbia)
RHP Luinder Avila (Triple-A Omaha)
RHP Brandon Johnson (Double-A Northwest Arkansas)
LHP Chazz Martinez (High-A Quad Cities)
RHP Shane Panzini (High-A Quad Cities)
RHP Anthony Simonelli (Triple-A Omaha)
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Publish date : 2024-09-25 14:37:00
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