Ranking potential landing spots for Florida Baseball's Jac Caglianone in MLB Draft

Most projections have Caglianone being drafted within the first five picks, but which team would be the best situation for him to go to?
Jun 17, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Florida Gators starting pitcher Jac Caglianone (14) runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run against the NC State Wolfpack during the second inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 17, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Florida Gators starting pitcher Jac Caglianone (14) runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run against the NC State Wolfpack during the second inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports / Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
facebooktwitterreddit

Tonight Florida Baseball star Jac Caglianone will find out which MLB team he begin his professional journey with as the MLB Draft takes place at 7 PM on ESPN. Almost every projection has Caglianone being picked within the first five picks of the draft, with Cleveland, Cincinnati, Colorado, Oakland, and Chicago (White Sox) being the teams drafting in the top five.

While Caglianone can't choose his new home, he probably has a preference on where he would like to land. The following is a ranking of which situation would be the best for Caglianone to be drafted to among the teams in the top five.

5. Oakland (4th Pick)

This would be a dumpster fire of a situation for Caglianone to be drafted to. The Oakland A's have been living out the movie Major League in real life, fielding a team so bad with the backdrop of trying to move the team out of town.

The situation with the A's is that they want to move to Las Vegas and may or may not actually have a deal in place. In the meantime, because they are so desperate to get out of Oakland, the plan right now is for them to play in the Sacramento's AAA stadium while their situation gets worked out.

After going 50-112 last years, the A's are still terrible this year at 36-61.

Plus, until the move to Vegas happens (or doesn't happen), Caglianone will be stuck paying California taxes on his contract.

4. Chicago White Sox (5th Pick)

You want to talk about a team that fell off in a heart beat, the Chicago White Sox won the AL Central in 2021, were still 81-81 in 2022, and are currently sitting at 27-70 on the season.

Like the A's, their focus right now seems to be on getting a new stadium rather than fielding a competitive baseball team. But playing in the AL Central would be among the softer division Caglianone could cut his teeth into once he makes it to the MLB.

3. Colorado Rockies (3rd Pick)

If we are talking strictly on the field, the Colorado Rockies have been awful since 2019. Since their 91-72 year in 2018, the Rockies haven't finished better than next-to-last in the NL West and are currently 33-63 on the season.

But we will put them above Oakland and Chicago for the simple fact that both the Rockies and their AAA affiliate Albuquerque Isotopes play over 5,000 feet above sea level. The idea of Caglianone getting his bat on the ball in Coors Field and seeing how far it can fly would be a fun sight and would suite his game well.

2. Cleveland Guardians (1st Pick)

Based on projections, it's doubtful Cleveland will select Caglianone with the first overall pick. Most seem to think either Travis Bazzana or Charlie Condon is going to go first overall.

But beyond the honor of being the first pick, Cleveland wouldn't be a bad landing spot for Caglianone. The Guardians are generally one of the more competitive teams in baseball and even in acquiring the number one pick were 76-86 before winning the lottery. They have bounced back and are currently 58-36.

1. Cincinnati Reds (2nd Pick)

Even if one were to extend this list to the top ten teams in the MLB Draft, Cincinnati would still be the ideal landing spot for Caglianone. The stadium the Reds play in Great American Ball Park, which has been dubbed the most hitter's friendly stadium in MLB.

As an organization, the Reds have only made the playoffs four times since 1996 (with one of those being the 2020 season when half the league made the playoffs). But they feel like a team on the doorstep of breaking through if they can just add one more key piece.

And the idea of Elly de la Cruz being paired with Caglianone would turn the Reds into must see TV every night.

feed