Kansas City Royals outfielder Jac Caglianone is dealing with a new injury.
The Kansas City Royals may be without one of their few bright spots from this year to close the week. Outfielder Jac Caglianone was scratched from Friday’s lineup against the Pittsburgh Pirates with a hand injury. The way it happened, though, is what stood out.
Manager Matt Quatraro told reporters the injury came in the dugout rather than during the game, via Royals reporter Joel Goldberg. Quatraro added that holding Caglianone out was his own decision. Kansas City is treating him as day-to-day, with a chance to return Saturday. Nick Loftin took over in right field.
The fact that the setback happened in the dugout rather than during game action, coming in the middle of one of the roughest stretches of his career, has fueled speculation that frustration may have played a part.
Since returning from a nagging left elbow flexor strain last Saturday, Caglianone has gone hitless. He has struck out eight times during the cold stretch. For a hitter who carried the lineup a month ago, he clearly holds himself to higher standards.
Despite his recent struggles, the 23-year-old has been a big positive in a lost season. He was named the American League Player of the Month for August after hitting .411 with six home runs and 26 RBIs during the month. On the year, Caglianone is batting .277 with a .328 on-base percentage, .811 OPS, 23 home runs and 70 RBIs across 136 games.
That production matters for a franchise building around him. Caglianone was a first-round pick in 2024 and a two-way standout at Florida. Kansas City views him as a key piece of its lineup for years to come.
The problem lately has been staying on the field. Caglianone dealt with right ankle soreness in late August. Then came the Grade 1 elbow strain in early September, which cost him six straight starts. The hand issue now marks his third physical problem in about a month. And it seems this one may have been avoidable.
At 67-87, Kansas City sits last in the American League Central and was eliminated from playoff contention just a couple days ago. The final days of the schedule are about evaluation for 2027 more than anything else.
Caglianone is central to those long-term plans, and the club would prefer he close the year on a healthy, positive note. For now, he is day-to-day and could be back in the lineup as soon as Saturday. Caglianone will likely address the incident before first pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
