Jac Caglianone, ex-Florida Gators star, added to MLB Home Run Derby
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Jac Caglianone’s rise from Florida Gators superstar to Kansas City Royals slugger has been one of baseball’s most compelling storylines.
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After rewriting the record books with the Gators as one of the nation’s top two-way players, Caglianone has quickly brought that same power and promise to the majors.
Now, as the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby approaches, the former Florida standout is once again in the spotlight, giving fans another chance to watch one of baseball’s most exciting young hitters on a national stage.
Jac Caglianone 2026 Royals stats
Entering July 8, Caglianone has .270 batting average, 67 hits, 12 home runs, 27 RBIs, and 35 runs scored in the 73 games this season for the Kansas City Royals. Drafted sixth overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, Caglianone signed a $7,497,400 rookie deal, but is making less than $1 million a season in 2025 and 2026.
Jac Caglianone Florida stats
The former Gator was a standout player for Florida. Though he played half the games during his freshman year after an elbow injury, that didn't stop his impact on the team, securing the starting role his second year.
Awards and accomplishments at Florida
- 2024 Unanimous First Team Academic All-American
- 2024 Academic All-American Team Member of the Year
- 2024 First Team All-American
- 2024 John Olerud 2-Way Player of the Year
- 2024 John Olerud Award Finalist
- 2024 Dick Howser Trophy Finalist
- 2024 District 3 Player of the Year
- 2024 Perfect Game Two-Way Player of the Year
- 2024 All-SEC First Team
- 2024 Southeast First Team All-Region
- 2024 Stillwater Regional All-Tournament Team
- 2024 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Semifinalist
- 2024 SEC Pitcher of the Week (March 4)
- 2024 Perfect Game National Player of the Week (Week 3)
- 2024 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Watch List
- 2024 Preseason All-SEC First Team (1B)
- 2024 Preseason All-SEC Second Team (SP)
- 2024 Preseason Two-Way Player of the Year (PG)
- 2024 Preseason First Team All-American
- 2023 Italian American Baseball Foundation Future Star Award
- 2023 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Member
- 2023 ABCA National Position Player of the Year
- 2023 Unanimous First Team All-American
- 2023 Golden Spikes Award Finalist
- 2023 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Finalist
- 2023 NCBWA Dick Howser Trophy Finalist
- 2023 First Team All-SEC
- 2023 NCBWA District 3 Player of the Year
- 2023 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Finalist
- 2023 ABCA/Rawlings First Team All-Southeast Region
- 2023 NCAA Gainesville Regional All-Tournament Team
- 2023 SEC Player of the Week (Feb. 27, March 27)
- 2022 NCAA Gainesville Regional All-Tournament Team
- 2022 SEC All-Tournament Team
Career Stats
- Tied for fourth-highest Gator to be drafted to the MLB by the Kansas City Royals (sixth overall) alongside John Burke and A.J. Puk
- Batted a .355/.447/.760 in 634 at bats, with 164 starts and 165 games played
- Topped Wyatt Langford’s career slugging percentage record with a .760 mark
- Tied the program’s all-time-longest hitting streak (30)
- Tied an NCAA record by homering in nine-straight games (April 6-19, 2024)
- Topped Florida’s career home run record with 75 in just two and a half seasons, besting Matt LaPorta’s record of 74
- Pitched a total of 148⅓ innings as a starting pitcher across the 2023 and 2024 seasons
- Had a career ERA of 4.55, allowed 113 hits, 105 walks, 16 home runs and notched 170 strikeouts
How to watch 2026 Home Run Derby
You can watch 2026 MLB Home Run Derby live exclusively on Netflix on July 13. The Debry will start at 8 p.m. ET, with pre-game coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET. The Derby will be held at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
Home Run Derby format
This year's derby will be a bit different. Rather than racing against the clock, the eight players will get a set number of swings. Players will get 20 swings for Round 1, while the semifinals and finals have 15 swings each. If there are ties, they can be broken by the longest home run distance in Round 1 and by three-swings in later rounds.
Home Run Derby winners
- 2025 - Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners
- 2024 - Teoscar Hernandez, Los Angeles Dodgers
- 2023 - Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays
- 2022 - Juan Soto, Washington Nationals
- 2021 - Pete Alonso New York Mets
- 2019 - Pete Alonso New York Mets
- 2018 - Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
- 2017 - Aaron Judge- New York Yankees
- 2016 - Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins
- 2015 - Todd Frazier, Cincinnati Reds
- 2014 - Yoenis Céspedes, Oakland Athletics
- 2013 - Yoenis Céspedes, Oakland Athletics
- 2012 - Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers
- 2011 - Robinson Canó, New York Yankees
- 2010 - David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox
- 2009 - Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers
- 2008 - Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins
- 2007 - Vladimir Guerrero, Los Angeles Angels
- 2006 - Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies
- 2005 - Bobby Abreu, Philadelphia Phillies
- 2004 - Miguel Tejada, Baltimore Orioles
- 2003 - Garret Anderson, Anaheim Angels
- 2002 - Jason Giambi, New York Yankees
- 2001 - Luis Gonzalez, Arizona Diamondbacks
- 2000 - Sammy Sosa, Chicago Cubs
- 1999 - Ken Griffey Jr., Seattle Mariners
- 1998 - Ken Griffey Jr., Seattle Mariners
- 1997 - Tino Martinez, New York Yankees
- 1996 - Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants
- 1995 - Frank Thomas, Chicago White Sox
- 1994 - Ken Griffey Jr., Seattle Mariners
- 1993 - Juan González, Texas Rangers
- 1992 - Mark McGwire, Oakland Athletics
- 1991 - Cal Ripken Jr., Baltimore Orioles
- 1990 - Ryne Sandberg, Chicago Cubs
- 1989 - Eric Davis, Cincinnati Reds and Rubén Sierra, Texas Rangers
- 1987 - Andre Dawson, Chicago Cubs
- 1986 - Darryl Strawberry, New York Mets and Wally Joyner, California Angels
- 1985 - Dave Parker, Cincinnati Red
How to watch 2026 MLB All-Star Game
The MLB All-Star Game will be at 8 p.m. ET July 14. The game will be nationally televised on Fox.
Watch the MLB All-Star Game on Fubo (free trial)
Which Tampa Bay Rays made the Home Run Derby
There haven't been many players announced in the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby but one of the players in another Florida representative. Junior Caminero, of the Tampa Bay Rays, has been announced as one of the players for the 2026. This is the second time Tampa Bay has had a representative in the Derby. Caminero also represented the Rays last year and was runner-up.
Which Miami Marlins made the Home Run Derby
In 2016, Giancarlo Stanton represented the Miami Marlins and won 61 home runs. He was the first and only Marlin to represent the team that season.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Jac Caglianone, ex-Florida Gators star, added to MLB Home Run Derby