Caglianone's latest must-see feat: A 120.9 mph base hit?!

Trading in the metal bat this past summer, Jac Caglianone looked to have left his insane exit velocities in the past.

The Royals' top prospect proved many wrong Thursday.

In his first at-bat for Double-A Northwest Arkansas against Frisco, Caglianone smoked a reported 120.9 mph single the opposite way, per the Trackman system at Arvest Ballpark.

For perspective, Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz recorded the top mark of 122.4 mph on a single Aug. 24, 2022. Cruz also logged the hardest-hit ball between Triple-A and the Florida State League with a 121.7 mph single on May 12, 2022. Caglianone¡¯s knock would be the 12th-hardest hit ball in the Statcast era.

Drafted sixth overall in 2024 by Kansas City, MLB's No. 20 prospect began his first full professional season in the Texas League. Entering Thursday, Caglianone sported a .333/.407/.667 slash line with two home runs and 11 RBIs through his first five games for the Naturals.

Dubbed the "College Shohei Ohtani" at Florida for his two-way prowess, Caglianone will focus primarily as a position player in 2025. This move might get the organization's top prospect to Kauffman Stadium sooner than later.

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"I think the next wave understands the importance of the expectations, when they get to the Major Leagues and get that opportunity," Royals farm director Mitch Maier said. "Here's how we need to develop, here's how we need to help a team win baseball games within their individual tool sets. We continue to emphasize that message so when they go up there, they understand how they¡¯re going to help us win on any given night.

"It's not a 'just get our feet wet' type mentality. It's, 'We need to go up there and help and be a positive contributor to that Major League team.'"

Caglianone broke his own single-season home run record at Florida in his junior season, while also setting the all-time Gators career record of 75 in the process. The lefty hitter's power tool has been graded 70 by MLB Pipeline as he translates his swing to the Minors, a transition he's made look even more effortless in the most recent test of his professional career.