Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro provided an update on Jac Caglianone after the young slugger exited Saturday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays with left elbow soreness.
The news was ultimately more encouraging than initially feared, though Caglianone will still need time away from baseball activities.
Caglianone has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 flexor strain, Quatraro told reporters. The Royals do not currently expect the injury to require a trip to the injured list.
The update was first reported by Royals beat writer Anne Rogers, who shared Quatraro’s comments on X following the Royals’ lineup decision.
Caglianone will take a few days off before progressing back toward baseball activities. The low-grade diagnosis gives Kansas City optimism that the 23-year-old can return without a lengthy absence.
His departure Saturday came after he experienced discomfort in his left elbow early in the game. The Royals opted not to take any unnecessary chances with one of the organization’s most important young players.
While the injury does not appear serious, Caglianone’s status remains worth monitoring over the next several days as Kansas City determines how quickly he can resume baseball activities.
The rookie has become an important part of the Royals’ lineup, making any absence notable even with the team sitting outside the postseason picture.
Entering Saturday, Caglianone had appeared in 131 games and was batting .283 with 23 home runs, 70 RBIs and a .494 slugging percentage.
Those numbers have helped establish him as one of the central pieces of Kansas City’s future as the organization continues building around its young core.
Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Quatraro and the Royals now appear focused on preventing a minor issue from becoming something more serious. A few days of rest could allow Caglianone to avoid the injured list entirely.
For Kansas City, that would represent the best possible outcome after what initially looked like a concerning elbow issue. The next step will be seeing how Caglianone responds when he resumes baseball activities.
With the regular season winding down, the Royals have little reason to rush one of their most valuable young players back onto the field.
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