Welcome home, Jac Caglianone.
ESPN’s Bradford Doolittle looks at what each MLB team “must do before the trade deadline”. The Kansas City Royals’ direction is no surprise
What they need to do before the deadline: Add offense. Someday, Jac Caglianone will draw a big league walk, but it’s hard telling when that will be. Longtime Royals fans might be reminded of the early career of Mark Quinn, whose swing-at-everything approach yielded tremendous early results — until they didn’t. Caglianone has a lot more upside than the Mighty Quinn, and doesn’t seem out of place in the majors less than a year after being drafted. But his approach is likely to mean up-and-down production for a while, and the Royals have more than one outfield slot that needs a lot of help. For that matter, they need to take a hard look at second baseman Michael Massey, a heretofore solid performer whose 2025 numbers are borderline catastrophic. You get the idea: The Royals, despite Jac’s arrival, need offense.
Royals Data Dugout dives into reliever Steven Cruz and one of the many changes fueling his 2025 rise.
That’s not a fluke — the in-zone rate has spiked to 59.1% in 2025 after hovering around 49% in 2023-2024 in the minors. He’s learned his electric stuff plays well over the plate; there’s no need to dot corners with a high-octane mix, and it’s led to Cruz becoming one of the most aggressive strike-throwers in the league. His 59.1% zone rate sits 13th among qualified relievers. The 66.3% first-pitch strike rate, 42nd among Big League bullpenners, is also a big leap from 49.8% in 2023 and a miserable 40.4% last season.
Locked On Yankees host Brian McKeon critiqued Kansas City’s payroll ahead of the ALDS rematch.
“I think overall the sense around the league is it’s been a fairly underwhelming year for the Royals so far,” co-host Brian McKeon said on a recent episode of the Locked On Yankees podcast. “They’re not playing up to expectations; they should be a lot better than they are…They’re another one of those teams that falls into the slot of should have spent more money than they did. When you have a young team that’s ready to strike and you don’t spend the money, especially with a lackluster division that they play in.”
Royals inch upwards in latest MLB power rankings from The Athletic. Writer Johnny Flores Jr. also asks the biggest question in Kansas City. [$]
One big question: Is Jac Caglianone enough to lift the offense?
That question is quite the burden to place on a 22-year-old rookie, but it’s almost assuredly the exact kind of question that the Kansas City front office hoped to answer when it called up the 2024 first-round pick to the big leagues. The Royals have become a pitching factory of sorts (3.31 team ERA, fifth in MLB), which are probably not the words anyone thought they’d be typing in 2025, but the offense continues to struggle. Caglianone, who absolutely demolished minor league pitching (.982 OPS in 199 at-bats in Triple A and Double A), could be the answer, or his K-rate could be an easy exploit for pitchers to take advantage of. It’s the exact kind of gamut a team runs when it calls up a prospect, but the Royals believe it’s a risk worth taking. — Flores
The Athletic’s Jim Bowden names outfielder Taylor Ward as Kansas City’s “favorite target” ahead of the trade deadline. [$]
The Royals rank last in MLB in home runs and need to add power and length to their lineup. Ward would be a nice fit in left field. He is slashing just .209/.260/.482 but has 12 doubles, 18 homers and 45 RBIs. Combined with the recent promotion of top prospect Jac Caglianone, trading for another power bat could completely change the complexion of their lineup. As good as the Royals’ starting pitching, bullpen, defense and offensive contact is, the right acquisition could be the final piece needed to get them back to the playoffs as a wild-card team.
Watch Caglianone’s press availability ahead of his Kauffman Stadium debut.
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Bobby Witt Jr. in a Yankees uniform? As crazy as it sounds, it has already happened.
USA Today’s Gabe Lacques sends a prep infielder and collegiate pitcher to Kansas City in their latest mock draft.
Kansas City Star’s Lisa Gutierrez does some social media stalking profiles Caglianone’s wife-to-be and former Florida Gator volleyball star Elli McKissock.
Overland Park residents are not all on board with the Royals possibly moving to the area.
Pitcher Michael Kelly is trying to “start over” after a betting-related suspension ended. [$]
Down on the Farm updates readers on the top minor-league performers so far this season.
Pebble Hunting shows Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado ends up in the front row for the out.
Culture of Sports looks at how collegiate sports could change after historic $2.8 billion settlement.
Pitching prospect Grant Taylor jumped from Double-A to The Show after the latest Chicago White Sox move.
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola suffered a setback in rehab and will be shut down for two more weeks.
San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman lands on the IL with a sprained right hand.
MLB has acquired a stake in Jomboy Media after a record-setting 2024 for the media group.
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Today’s song is Walk Idiot Walk by The Hives.