From college baseball in The Swamp, to the show in Kansas City, to representing his country all in just over a year’s time, that is the historic road that former Gator standout, Jac Caglianone, has taken.
After being drafted in July 2014 to the Kansas City Royals and chomping his way through the minor league system, Caglianone made his Major League debut on June 3, 2025. Just five months later, he announced earlier this week that he will represent Team Italy in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. With family ties to Puerto Rico through his mother being born in Humacao, Puerto Rico, and ties to Italy through his father’s family roots (his dad and grandparents all came from Italy), he could have played for either team, but ultimately, as Caglianone stated this week, Italy reached out first and that is the country he has decided to represent.
Jac Caglianone on why he chose Italy for the 2026 World Baseball Classic:
— Shawn Spradling (@Shawn_Spradling) November 3, 2025
“I’m gonna play with Italy, because Puerto Rico kinda reached out late, only a couple months ago, but I’ve been talking to Italy for years about it. So I already committed.” 🇮🇹
🎥: @BaergaCarlos pic.twitter.com/PLfC5Ka7IH
“I’m gonna play with Italy,” stated Caglianone. “Puerto Rico, they kinda reached out, I guess late, a couple months ago, but I’ve been talking with Italy for years about it, so I already committed.” He mentioned that Italy began talking to him before his last couple years at the University of Florida and the discussions had continued since. With the 2026 classic approaching, he will take his Italian roots and represent the country that his father is from.
In his 2025 rookie season, Caglianone batted .157/.237/.295, with a .532 OPS through 62 games. He hit six doubles, one triple, seven home runs, had 18 RBIs, and 19 runs scored. He had his first big league hit on June 5, it was an RBI double against the St. Louis Cardinals. His breakout game came on June 19 against the Texas Rangers when the lefty clubbed two home runs, drove in two RBIs and had two runs scored. Then in July he hit back-to-back home runs on July 8 and July 9 against the Pirates.
He missed part of the season from the end of July through September 1 with a hamstring strain, but came back strong to end the season. He had a five-game hit streak from September 14 through September 19.
It was a rookie season to remember for the Tampa, Florida native. And while his team works their way through spring training in March, Caglianone will suit up in the colors of Team Italy for the World Baseball Classic.
Italy takes the field for the first time in this spring classic on Saturday, March 7 at 1:00PM ET against team Brazil at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas.