It was his first homer of the 2026 World Baseball Classic. And it gave Italy an early lead over the United States in Pool B play.<\/p>\n
Caglianone got the barrel to the baseball. He shortened his swing and pulled the baseball over the wall.<\/p>\n
The Royals are hopeful to see similar results this season. Caglianone will have an integral role within the club\u2019s lineup. He is known for his elite power but is still developing consistency at the plate.<\/p>\n
\u201cOut there, everyone is amped up and everybody is ready to go,\u201d Caglianone said earlier this spring. \u201cSo you know, it\u2019s like midseason-form baseball in March.\u201d<\/p>\n
A home run off Yarbrough \u2014 an established MLB pitcher \u2014 is a good start. According to Statcast, Caglianone registered a 110.4 exit velocity<\/a> on the homer. The baseball traveled 403 feet at a 22-degree launch angle.<\/p>\n With one swing, Caglianone continued his hot spring. He hit .400 (6-for-15) in Cactus League play before heading to the WBC.<\/p>\n A lot of work was done in big-league camp. Caglianone worked on his pitch selection<\/a> and focused on staying balanced in the strike zone. The Royals have worked closely with him to find his footing ahead of his second season.<\/p>\n \u201cI want him to be the best version of himself,\u201d Royals hitting coach Marcus Thames said earlier in camp. \u201cJust being here with (Royals lead hitting coach Alec Zumwalt) and helping unlock that out of him. He is a game-changer if we can get him in the right spots.\u201d<\/p>\n Caglianone provided a game-changing moment Tuesday. If he can carry the momentum into the regular season, it bodes well for the Royals in 2026.<\/p>\n This story was originally published March 10, 2026 at 10:05 PM.<\/p>\n Related Stories from Kansas City Star<\/p>\n