KANSAS CITY -- Royals right fielder Jac Caglianone first felt the tightness in his left hamstring as he was running down a double in the right-center gap during Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader against the Guardians. Then he felt it again while he was running up the first-base line on his double-play groundout in the bottom of the frame.
By the conclusion of Game 2 on Saturday night, it was looking like an injured list stint was likely for the 22-year-old.
Despite the Royals announcing that Caglianone was placed on the 10-day IL with a left hamstring strain during Saturday’s nightcap to make room for veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk, whom they acquired via trade with the D-backs during the game, an official roster move will not actually be made until Sunday morning.
Grichuk is expected to arrive in Kansas City by Sunday morning and be in the Royals’ starting lineup against Guardians lefty Joey Cantillo. When he is activated, the Royals will have to make a corresponding move.
“If [Caglianone] has to go on the IL, it will be tomorrow morning,” general manager J.J. Picollo said Saturday night. “Don’t know the severity. I just know the exam didn’t match the imaging. The imaging was better than the exam, so that’s really encouraging.
“But more than likely, when you’re in this heat, at this time of year, the wise thing to do is to put him on the IL. We’ll wait until tomorrow to truly determine, but that’s what we’re anticipating.”
Caglianone exited Game 1 following his second-inning groundout. Nothing appeared off as Caglianone made a right turn back into the Royals’ dugout, but MJ Melendez ran out to left field for the top of the third inning moments later, with John Rave moving to take over right field for Caglianone.
“That first step out of the gate on the [Kyle] Manzardo double [in the second inning], I felt it,” Caglianone said Saturday night. “And it lingered throughout that run. And then every foul ball and stuff, doing the drop step, I could feel it.
“And then grounding into the double play, running down the line, I was like, ‘This doesn’t feel right.’ That’s when I came back in and just sat down, made sure it was good. It was achey, I guess, and I had to talk to the trainer.”
It’s unclear how long Caglianone will be sidelined, but he’s hoping his recovery is “short and sweet,” he said.
He’s been a mainstay in the Royals’ lineup since he made his Major League debut on June 3. A Top 10 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, before he graduated from prospect status, Caglianone has yet to find the consistent power with Kansas City that led to his quick ascension from the No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 Draft to the Major Leagues in less than a year. He entered Saturday’s twin bill slashing .148/.206/.282 with five homers and 10 RBIs.
How the Royals fill right field now remains to be seen; it’ll likely be a mix of options based on the matchups each game. Rave, a left-handed hitter, has seen increased playing time since the break, and Grichuk, a right-handed hitter, figures to see time in right field now, too, once he joins the team.