Jac Caglianone is headed to Philadelphia for the Home Run Derby.
The Kansas City Royals right fielder announced his participation Wednesday on Instagram, writing "Excited to be a part of this year's Home Run Derby! Pops and I can't wait! See y'all in Philly!" He will compete at Citizens Bank Park on July 13, with his father slated to pitch to him during the event.
Caglianone, 23, is in his second MLB season after a difficult 2025 debut in which he batted .157 with a .532 OPS. An offseason spent working with sports psychologists helped him reset, and a breakout June surge pushed him into the Derby conversation. He is batting .258 with a .322 on-base percentage and a .455 slugging percentage on the season, with 14 home runs leading the Royals roster.
He was drafted sixth overall by the Royals in the 2024 MLB Draft out of the University of Florida, where he set the school's single-season home run record with 35 as a junior and won the John Olerud Award as college baseball's best two-way player. He made his big-league debut on June 3, 2025.
Caglianone ranks in the 96th percentile in both barrel rate and average exit velocity per Statcast. He also represented Team Italy in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, giving him international experience before his breakout at the big-league level.
Pablo Robles-Imagn Images
The Derby uses a swing-based format this year, with each hitter receiving 20 swings in the first round and 15 in each subsequent round. The event airs July 13 on Netflix at 8 p.m. ET.
The Royals are 38-54 and last in the American League Central. Caglianone's Derby selection gives Kansas City a representative on baseball's biggest showcase stage heading into the second half.
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