The Kansas City Royals’ outfield group has been one of the biggest storylines of the 2026 MLB offseason, as the team has been linked to nearly every available outfielder in the league. That unit was Kansas City’s biggest weakness in 2025 and one of the primary reasons the organization took a step backward and missed out on the postseason.
The Royals have already taken steps to address the issue this winter, trading for Isaac Collins from the Milwaukee Brewers and signing Lane Thomas to a one-year deal as a bounce-back candidate. Even so, not everyone believes the Royals need to overhaul the position.
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MLB Network analyst and former player Harold Reynolds argued that young outfielder Jac Caglianone, entering his second season, makes the group stronger than most people realize. When fellow analyst Matt Vasgersian suggested Kansas City still needed more outfield help, Reynolds countered, “I think Caglianone is the key man. I really think he’s going to take off. I don’t think they need it as much as most people think.”
On the surface, that statement is a bold prediction and a vote of confidence. Caglianone struggled in his rookie season, fighting for playing time in an outfield that ranked among the worst in baseball.
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The 22-year-old finished with a .157 batting average, a .237 on-base percentage, a .532 OPS, seven home runs and 18 RBIs across 210 at-bats, while posting a –1.3 bWAR. Those numbers were disappointing, but the Royals believe his ceiling is far higher.
Part of that optimism stems from his pedigree. Caglianone was Kansas City’s first-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, selected for his rare combination of size, power and athleticism. Scouts and analysts continue to point to several reasons why he could break out in 2026.
He has shown enormous raw power, producing elite exit velocities in college and the minors, including a 120.9 mph batted ball last year that placed him in rare company. That kind of pop suggests he can change games with one swing once he adjusts to big-league pitching.
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Before his promotion, he also dominated Double-A and Triple-A. Royals general manager J.J. Picollo has emphasized that Caglianone remains a central part of the team’s future plans, noting his power and stressing the importance of consistent playing time.
Many hitters struggle early before making adjustments, and the Royals believe his second season could mark that leap forward. If those projections hold true, Caglianone could transform Kansas City’s outfield from a glaring weakness into a surprising strength, giving the Royals a chance to rebound in 2026.