Caglianone was slated to hit third and play right field on Sunday. Instead, John Rave will start in his place in right field.
Ahead of the Kansas City Royals’ series finale against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday afternoon, the Royals scratched Jac Caglianone from their starting lineup, marking the second time he will sit out a game in the past few days.
The Royals announced that the 23-year-old was scratched due to ankle soreness. The soreness is a nagging issue that the Royals and Caglianone are attempting to manage, as the plan is likely to give him an extra day off with a scheduled off-day tomorrow before traveling to Toronto on Tuesday.
This past Wednesday, the Royals pulled Caglianone from a game against the Athletics in the fifth inning with that same right ankle soreness. The very next day, Caglianone was not in the Royals' starting lineup for precautionary reasons.
Caglianone’s ankle had been nagging at him since the Royals’ West Coast road trip earlier this month, and likely started bothering him further this weekend. He initially aggravated the injury when beating out an infield single in the first inning of Wednesday’s game, then was hit by a pitch in his second plate appearance of the game in the third inning.
After Thursday’s day off, Caglianone returned to the Royals’ lineup for the first two games against the Tigers on Friday and Saturday. In those two games, Caglianone combined to go 1-for-8 at the plate, recording just a double and one run scored.
Caglianone was set to play right field and hit third on Sunday as the Royals will go for the sweep of Detroit. In his place, John Rave will now get the start in right field, hitting sixth in the Royals’ lineup. Vinnie Pasquantino will now hit third in the order, where Caglianone was initially slotted.
As the Royals open a three-game set on the road against the Blue Jays on Tuesday, Caglianone will likely be treated as day-to-day, as the team continues to nurse the soreness and take the necessary precautions.
This season, Caglianone has enjoyed a breakout campaign, despite the Royals having an overall down year. The lefty bat has hit for a .276 average, while slashing 22 homers with 60 RBIs. In 121 games this year, Caglianone has posted a 2.2 fWAR and a 124 wRC+, while owning an elite barrel and hard-hit rate.
Caglianone has only gotten better at the plate as time has gone on this season. He owns a .429 average and 17 RBI in his last 15 games. Alongside Bobby Witt Jr., the two have been an elite tandem in the Royals’ order this season.
