MLB's No. 3 Draft prospect drills record-setting HR ... and strikes out 8
Florida's Caglianone becomes first player in SEC history with multiple 30-homer seasons
Kenny Van Doren
@thevandalorianJac Caglianone brought fireworks on both sides of the diamond for presumably one of the final times in his historic collegiate career.
MLB Pipeline¡¯s No. 3 Draft prospect got the start on the mound for Florida in the Gators¡¯ second NCAA regional game Saturday, putting his two-way prowess to the test against the host program, Oklahoma State.
Caglianone ran into early trouble against the Cowboys, yielding two runs in both the first and third innings en route to a five-inning appearance. He surrendered seven hits -- four solo home runs -- and issued two walks, but the lefty piled up eight strikeouts -- his most in a start since March 10 and third most in 2024. Over 67 innings this year, the 21-year-old has amassed 76 punchouts and showcased an arsenal that makes him an enticing pro talent on the bump.
Caglianone shifted his focus strictly to the plate -- where many evaluators believe his pro future lies -- after the fifth frame. In the bottom of the ninth, the lefty grabbed a low pitch in a 2-1 count and powered it out to right-center field for his 30th home run of the season.
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The swing put Caglianone in exclusive company ¡ all to himself.
The junior is the first player in SEC history with multiple 30-homer seasons, following a 33-homer campaign in 2023 for the Gators. Mike Willes (BYU, 1987-88) was the most recent player to deliver a pair of seasons at the 30-roundtripper threshold. Despite the power output, Caglianone is not merely a swing-for-the-fences bat, as evidenced by his .413 batting average at the conclusion of play Saturday.
Florida has an opportunity to keep its season alive Sunday in an elimination game against Nebraska, the same program the Gators beat 5-2 on Friday.