Saturday 3rd May 2025

kc-royals-flag

The Kansas City Royals have agreed to terms with their first-round draft pick.

Details of the deal with two-way player Jac Caglianone were not released by the team, but MLB.com reports that the deal with the Florida Gator is worth $7.5 million, slightly above the estimated draft pick value.  Caglianone was selected sixth overall at this past month’s draft in Fort Worth.  At Florida, Caglianone hit home runs in nine straight games last season, en route to finishing the season with the second-most home runs in NCAA Division I with 35. As a pitcher, he posted a career ERA of 5.10 and was noted for his 99 mile-per-hour fastball.

Caglianone is on his way to Arizona to join the Royals’ fall league team there, where he’s expected to focus on his hitting as either a designated hitter or playing first base. Sources tell MLB.com that the 21-year-old could start next season at the Royals’ Single-A affiliate in Columbia, South Carolina.

The Royals have signed all but three of their draft picks to professional contracts. That includes pitchers David Shields for an estimated $2.3 million and Tennessee’s Drew Beam for $1.1 million. Two of the three who have yet to sign are high school prospects, pitcher Kyle DeGroat of New York and outfielder Corey Cousin of Louisiana. DeGroat had previously committed to playing at the University of Texas next spring.

Meanwhile in St Louis, the Cardinals have signed all but one of their draft selections. West Virginia shortstop JJ Wetherholt signed his deal that MLB.com reports is worth $6.9 million, while pitcher Bryan Holiday agreed to terms believed to be worth $800,000. The only Cardinals draft selection yet to sign is Canadian shortstop Brendan Larson, who recently played for the P27 Academy in South Carolina.