The Twins, although they currently hold the third American League Wild Card spot, are in third place in the American League Central, arguably the best division in Major League Baseball, with a 31-27 record. The Kansas City Royals sit in fourth place with a 31-29 record. Both squads are carried by superb pitching, with their offenses being their weaknesses. The Twins rank 23rd in MLB in OPS (.686), and Kansas City ranks 26th (.659); the Royals are 4th in MLB in ERA with 3.13, and the Twins are 6th with 3.32. However, Kansas City might be on the path to surpassing the Twins after promoting a highly-regarded prospect.
Twins' path to AL Central title may have gotten harder as Kansas City Royals promote lefty first baseman Jac Caglianone.
Caglianone, MLB Pipeline's No. 10 prospect and Kansas City’s No. 1, could be the spark the Royals’ offense needs after he was promoted to the big leagues on Sunday, according to MLB's Anne Rogers.
Selected with the 6th overall pick by Kansas City in the 2024 MLB Draft out of the University of Florida, Caglianone struggled in his first season of professional baseball, slashing .241/.301/.388 with two homers and 14 RBI in 126 plate appearances for High-A Quad Cities. But since then, Caglianone has turned a new leaf, batting .322/.394/.553 with nine home runs and 43 RBI in 175 plate appearances with Double-A Northwest Arkansas this season before earning a promotion to Triple-A Omaha and hitting .326/.380/.767 with six homers and 13 RBI over 50 plate appearances for the Storm Chasers.
Caglianone, 22, is a primary first baseman who also frequently serves as a designated hitter. According to scouting grades, Caglianone rates as an average fielder and contact hitter, with his power ranking among the best in the game.
Having already played the Royals twice this season, the Twins will not see Caglianone, unless he is no longer on Kansas City’s big-league roster, until early August when they play their next series against the Royals.
Twins set to begin series against the Athletics
Minnesota is slated to begin a four-game series with the Athletics at 9:05 p.m. CT on Monday at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, Calif. Game 1’s scheduled starting pitchers are righties Joe Ryan and Luis Severino.