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**Summary:**

Kansas City Royals rookie Jac Caglianone, despite struggling at the plate early in his MLB career, showcased his raw power Wednesday with a massive 466-foot home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates. While his overall stats are disappointing and well below expectations, this homer, tied for the 10th longest in the league this season, offers a glimpse of the potential that made him a top prospect. Despite the slow start, advanced metrics suggest Caglianone has been unlucky and could be a better hitter than his current numbers indicate, giving the Royals hope for his development.

**News Article:**

**Caglianone’s Monster Homer Provides Glimmer of Hope Amidst Rookie Struggles**

KANSAS CITY, MO – Kansas City Royals rookie first baseman Jac Caglianone, the sixth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, has had a rocky start to his major league career. Despite the early struggles, he offered a reminder of his potential on Wednesday, crushing a 466-foot home run over the batter’s eye at Kauffman Stadium against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The towering blast, off the bat at 110.8 mph against Pirates starter Bailey Falter, gave the Royals an early 3-0 lead. The home run was Caglianone’s fourth in 32 games this season.

According to Baseball Savant, the home run is currently tied for the 10th-longest in MLB this season and is second-longest by a rookie.

Caglianone, who rapidly ascended through the Royals’ minor league system after dominating Double-A and Triple-A pitching, has found the transition to the majors challenging. He’s currently batting well below the Mendoza line and needs a series of improved performances to reach a .200 average.

However, advanced metrics suggest Caglianone’s struggles may be partly due to bad luck. His expected batting average (xBA) and expected slugging percentage (xSLG), based on batted ball data, are significantly higher than his actual numbers.

While this display of power is encouraging, the Royals, currently in the thick of the AL wild-card race, need Caglianone to consistently tap into his potential to contribute to a playoff push. Time will tell if this towering home run is a sign of things to come, or merely a flash of brilliance in a challenging rookie season.

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