Royals' Jac Caglianone Joins 2026 MLB Home Run Derby Field with Ben Rice, Junior Caminero

Kansas City Royals slugger Jac Caglianone is throwing his name in the hat for the 2026 Home Run Derby.

Caglianone confirmed Wednesday he will compete in the event. He joins the Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero and New York Yankees' Ben Rice.

The 23-year-old was a prodigious power hitter in college at Florida. During his sophomore and junior seasons, he mashed 68 home runs.

That carried over to the minors after Kansas City selected him sixth overall in the 2024 MLB draft. Across 66 games in Double- and Triple-A last season, he slugged .617 and had 20 homers.

Caglianone struggled against major league pitching when the Royals called him up last June, and it was a similar story to open the 2026 campaign.

Things might be starting to click. Caglianone posted a .309/.387/.649 slash line along with nine home runs and 19 RBI over the month of June. For at least that stretch, he was one of the best hitters in baseball.

If nothing else, Caglianone is tailor-made for a showcase like the Home Run Derby. According to Baseball Savant, he ranks in the 96th percentile or higher in average exit velocity, hard hard percentage and bat speed.

Regardless of who else is added to the field, plenty of fans will consider the first baseman/outfielder to be the favorite at Citizens Bank Park on July 13.