Sports Media

2024 MLB Draft Profiles: Jac Caglianone

Dominic Gutierrez / MLB / June 7, 2024

2024 MLB Draft Profiles: Jac Caglianone

Our next player part of our 2024 MLB Draft profiles can get it done on both sides of the ball. 1B/LHP Jac Caglianone is arguably the best two-way player in the nation (besides Shohei Ohtani of course, who’s already in the majors.)

Scouting grades(hitting): Hit: 55 / Power: 70 / Run: 40 / Arm: 60 / Field: 55 / Overall: 65

Scouting grades(pitching): Fastball: 70 / Slider: 50 / Cutter: 50 / Changeup: 55 / Control: 40 / Overall: 50

When you see a ton of power at the plate mixed with a hard fastball on the mound, it’s hard not to envision Ohtani. Even though his scouting grades give his hitting an edge, Caglianone should have no issue sticking with both.

Looking at his hitting first, the raw power and immense hand and bat speed are amazing. Caglianone carries above-average bat-to-ball skills, helping him hit 71 home runs in his three years at Florida.

Caglianone does well at fighting off pitches outside of the zone. However, he can get anxious during some at-bats, leading to an unhealthy plate approach of expanding the zone. He carried a 44 percent chase rate last year, but he keeps his strikeouts low and hard contact high.

He’s an average runner on the bases, something you expect from a 6’5″ first baseman. Caglianone’s defense is above average, should he still play there despite the pitching. As a hitter, 40-homer seasons seem to be his upside.

As a pitcher, the potential is more than there. The big concern is how well the elbow can last. Caglianone had Tommy John surgery during his senior year in high school. He served only as a DH in his freshman year at Florida, returning to pitching activities in 2022.

In two seasons with the Gators, Caglianone went 12-6 with a 4.45 ERA with 163 strikeouts in 141 innings. He’s touched 101 mph on the fastball and averages 99 mph in games. Caglianone carries an above-average slider with a changeup still in the works.

Caglianone had some command issues and his ability to work deep into games. He spent the past year shortening his arm movement, and still has plenty of time to work through the kinks.

Caglianone projects anywhere from the third to fifth overall pick. The pitching will need more work than the hitting, but a polished project could turn Caglianone into MLB’s next superstar.