After hitting just 34 homers and averaging just 3.23 runs through 60 games, the Kansas City Royals made a move to power up their offense.
That’s why they promoted top prospect Jac Caglianone and put him in the middle of the battle order. Caglianone, the sixth overall pick in the 2024 draft, had 15 homers and 56 RBIs in the minors this season.
The Royals rallied past the St. Louis Cardinals 10-7 during their first game with the new-look batting order. They will try to build on that Wednesday in the middle contest of a three-game set in St. Louis.
The promotion of Caglianone, 22, didn’t pay immediate dividends. He went 0-for-5 while hitting sixth in his big league debut, and Cardinals center fielder Victor Scott II made an excellent running catch to rob him of a double in his first at-bat.
Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who drove in four runs Tuesday, said he believes Caglianone will make the offense more dangerous.
“Just the presence of him in the box, first and foremost,” Witt said. “But then also just the power, the production he has. I know that people say our power is down, but it’s just kind of part of it. But him being in the lineup, holding that presence, I think it’s going to help everyone.”
Kansas City will turn to rookie left-hander Noah Cameron (2-1, 1.05 ERA) on Wednesday. He has pitched into the seventh inning in all four of his starts this season.
Cameron, 25, earned a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in his May 28 start, allowing one run on six hits and two walks in 6 1/3 innings.
“It’s obviously been fun getting wins and putting the team in a good spot and being able to save the bullpen,” Cameron said. “The vibes up here are obviously amazing. Just happy to be here.”
Cameron suffered a hard-luck 1-0 loss to the Cardinals on May 17, in his only previous outing against them. He allowed a Jordan Walker homer and one other hit in 6 1/3 innings while striking out three and walking none.
With Walker sidelined by a wrist injury, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol faces a bigger challenge in building a batting order to face left-handers.
The Cardinals have lost three of their past four games. They have begun a span of 28 games in the 30 days in June.
“Everyone has those stretches,” Marmol told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “You prepare for it and then put your head down and get through it. That’s what we’ll do.”
Right-hander Miles Mikolas (4-2, 3.90 ERA) will draw Wednesday’s start for St. Louis. He was 3-0 with a 3.08 ERA in five starts in May.
Mikolas is coming off of his second-worst start of the season, a no-decision on May 27 in a 6-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. Mikolas allowed four runs on nine hits in four innings. He struck out three and walked none.
He blanked the Royals on two hits over six innings on May 17. He struck out four batters and walked two.
Mikolas is 3-0 with a 1.67 ERA in four career starts against Kansas City.
–Field Level Media
