Royals high prospect Jac Caglianone is taking part in proper discipline for Double-A Northwest Arkansas tonight. It’s the primary profession outfield work for the lefty energy hitter, who had performed solely first base since being drafted with the #6 total choose final summer time. Caglianone had been a two-way star on the College of Florida, however his solely defensive work for the Gators additionally got here at first.
It’s an attention-grabbing improvement contemplating the Royals have (but once more) gotten little or no manufacturing from their outfield. Kansas Metropolis outfielders had been hitting .191/.252/.280 going into play on Thursday. They’re second from the underside in MLB in all three slash stats — forward of the White Sox in batting common and slugging, whereas main the Braves in on-base share. They’re tied for the foremost league low with 4 residence runs.
That’s not a brand new drawback. MLBTR’s Steve Adams wrote in regards to the Royals’ longstanding outfield woes in a publish for Entrance Workplace subscribers final Could. Within the almost full calendar 12 months since then, their outfield has hit .225/.282/.364 in additional than 1700 plate appearances. GM JJ Picollo acknowledged in February the entrance workplace was dissatisfied they had been unable to land a major improve throughout the offseason.
The Royals ran an Opening Day outfield of MJ Melendez, Kyle Isbel and Hunter Renfroe for the second straight season. They shook issues up by optioning Melendez final week. Drew Waters has drawn into the lineup as a substitute. He’s taking part in nicely in a tiny pattern, however he’s a profession .233/.307/.400 hitter who has fanned in a 3rd of his large league plate appearances. Renfroe has adopted final 12 months’s .229/.297/.392 displaying with a dismal .164/.258/.200 slash by way of 62 journeys to the dish.
Caglianone topped 30 residence runs in every of his last two seasons at Florida. He struggled over 29 Excessive-A video games after the draft, however he’s out to a a lot stronger begin this season. He owns a .300/.374/.529 line with 4 homers and doubles apiece at Double-A. If he’s not fairly on the radar for a significant league name but, a midseason promotion isn’t far-fetched. Faculty hitters chosen within the higher half of the primary spherical usually attain the large leagues throughout their first full skilled season. Two such gamers, Cam Smith and Nick Kurtz, are already within the majors.
The trail could be quite a bit cleaner if Caglianone can play a satisfactory proper discipline. Vinnie Pasquantino is the on a regular basis first baseman. Whereas they don’t have a set DH, Salvador Perez sees a superb period of time there to maintain him within the lineup when he’s not catching. Caglianone may run his fastball into the higher 90s as a pitcher, so he definitely has the arm power. The far greater query is whether or not he’s cellular sufficient to play anyplace apart from first. He’s listed at 6’5″, 250 kilos and unsurprisingly grades as a below-average runner on scouting studies. It seems the Royals will not less than gauge his outfield capability within the minors.
In additional speedy information, the workforce is awaiting phrase on Cole Ragans. The star left-hander got here out of this afternoon’s begin after three innings, throughout which he allowed 4 runs to Colorado. Anne Rogers of MLB.com writes that Ragans was hampered by left groin tightness and can go for additional testing tomorrow.
The Royals have used a rotation comprising Ragans, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Kris Bubic and Michael Lorenzen all 12 months. Kyle Wright and Alec Marsh may have pushed Lorenzen for the fifth starter spot, however they every opened the season on the injured listing. Marsh has battled shoulder soreness relationship again to the offseason. He was shut again down just a few weeks in the past after struggling renewed discomfort, however skipper Matt Quatraro advised reporters that he’ll restart a throwing program tomorrow (hyperlink by way of The Related Press).
