Royals Beat Rays 12-5 as Jac Caglianone Belts 2 Homers

Q: After a record-breaking power surge, is Jac Caglianone the new cornerstone of the Royals' future?

Yes — Caglianone is rapidly looking like a central piece of the Royals’ future, even if it is still too early to call the case fully closed. The evidence is strong. In the Royals’ 12-5 win over Tampa Bay, the 23-year-old hit two home runs in his hometown and continued one of the hottest stretches in baseball. He has six homers in his last five games, tying a franchise record, and nine in June, tied for the American League lead. For the month, he has produced an elite slash line and has been one of MLB’s most dangerous hitters by both results and Statcast measures, including top-tier exit velocity and a sharply improved barrel rate. What makes this more meaningful than a simple hot streak is the broader step forward from 2025 to 2026. After a difficult debut season, Caglianone has made clear adjustments, with better power output, stronger contact quality and improved defense. Those are the traits teams look for in a cornerstone player, especially one with his age, draft pedigree and raw power. There is still some caution. His profile remains somewhat boom-or-bust because of swing-and-miss issues, uneven production against left-handed pitching and weaker results in some high-leverage spots. Those are real tests of whether he becomes a star rather than just a dangerous slugger. Still, for a Royals club trying to build around Bobby Witt Jr. and stay competitive while retooling, Caglianone now looks less like a promising prospect and more like a foundational bat.

Q: Will this offensive surge stop the Royals from trading veteran stars before the deadline?

Probably not by itself. Kansas City’s 12-5 win over Tampa Bay, powered by Jac Caglianone’s two homers and Nick Loftin’s 4-for-5 night, fits a broader June uptick. The Royals have been scoring much better lately, and Caglianone in particular has been one of baseball’s hottest hitters. That gives the front office a reason to wait rather than rush into selling. But the bigger picture still matters more than one hot stretch. The Royals have spent most of 2026 below .500, and even with recent improvement they remain on the fringe of a crowded but weak Wild Card race. Their playoff odds are still modest, which is why rival evaluators continue to view them as a possible “retool” club at the deadline. General manager J.J. Picollo has made clear the club is not eager to strip the roster now. He has said the Royals want more time to evaluate where they stand closer to the All-Star break and deadline, with a focus on helping the current team if a run remains realistic. So the recent offense likely delays a firm sell decision more than it eliminates it. If Kansas City fades again, veteran pitchers such as Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo will remain logical trade candidates because of their value to contenders. At the same time, reports suggest the Royals are not looking for a full teardown and could be selective, especially with controllable players. So the surge helps, but only sustained winning over the next few weeks is likely to stop veteran trade talks.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jun 24

Kansas City rolled past Tampa Bay 12-5 behind Jac Caglianone’s two-homer game, the biggest spark in the Royals’ offense.
Nick Loftin added steady production, going 4-for-5 at the plate as Kansas City kept pressure on the Rays throughout the win.
The result paired power with depth, giving the Royals a comfortable seven-run margin by the final out.