Former Florida star Jac Caglianone made his MLB Home Run Derby debut Monday during the 2026 MLB All-Star Break at Citizens Bank Park.
Caglianone had big shoes to fill, being the first Gator to appear in the event in two years, following former Gators star Pete Alonso, who won in 2019 and 2021. Taking pitches from his father, Jeff Caglianone, he fell short in the first round with 8 home runs. Caglianone was eliminated, along with Munetaka Murakami (White Sox), Bryce Harper (Phillies) and Ben Rice (Yankees).
In the final, St. Louis right fielder Jordan Walker rallied to top Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber for the derby crown.
Off to a hot start, Caglianone launched his first home run 462 feet on his second swing. He needed eight swings to find his groove again, and with 10 swings remaining, he crushed his second home run at 475 feet. With nine swings left, Cags hit his third homer before finding his rhythm, slugging four in a row. However, he collapsed in the last five swings, going 0-for-5.
In his second MLB season with the Kansas City Royals, the left-handed-hitting right fielder is currently batting .260 with 15 home runs and 35 RBIs.
In Gainesville, Caglianone coined the nickname “Jac-tani,” inspired by two-way Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. A left-handed pitcher and first baseman for the Gators, he forwent his redshirt as a freshman after Tommy John surgery before that 2022 season. Instead, he opted to play as the designated hitter while rehabbing his throwing arm.
His junior season was statistically his most successful, racking up a .419 batting average with 104 hits, 83 runs, 72 RBIs and a single-season program record 35 home runs. He also holds the Florida record for career home runs, passing Matt LaPorta when Caglianone hit his 75th bomb in Omaha.
Tying the NCAA Division I record, Caglianone homered in nine straight games in April 2024. He also became the first player in SEC history to hit back-to-back 30-home-run seasons.
Named a 2023 Golden Spikes Award Finalist and semifinalist in 2024, Caglianone led the Gators to the College World Series twice, finishing second to LSU in 2023 and falling to Texas A&M in the 2024 semifinals.
