Royals’ Jac Caglianone will take part in Home Run Derby and bring special guest
Royals first baseman Jac Caglianone made a special announcement Wednesday while on the MLB Network. He’ll be taking part in the Home Run Derby on Monday ahead of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
As if that isn’t cool enough for Caglianone, who was the Royals’ first-round draft pick in 2024, he’s bringing a special guest to pitch at the event in Philadelphia: his dad, Jeff.
“I was approached a couple days ago and got asked to do the Home Run Derby,” Caglianone said on the MLB Network.
Mark DeRosa, the former MLB player who managed Team USA in the World Baseball Classic earlier this year, asked who would throw to him.
“My pops,” said Caglianone, who pushed aside talk of his father being nervous. “He’s got ice in veins. He threw in the Fall League Home Run Derby to me, and now we’re doing this one. It’s going to be great.”
Caglianone had his best month as a big-leaguer in June, batting .309 with a 1.036 OPS and nine home runs. It opened some eyes and garnered an invite to the event.
Teammates Salvador Perez and Bobby Witt Jr. previously took part in the competition.
Caglianone, who is batting .258 with 14 home runs, told The Star how important his father was to him becoming a big-league player.
“He’s definitely my biggest role model when it comes to baseball,” Caglianone said. “So he taught me the game and it’s just super special.”
