Jac of All Trades
Jac Caglianone (KCR): 4-4, 2 2B, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI.
It’s been quite the sophomore campaign for Royals slugger Jac Caglianone.
The 6th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft made his rookie debut a year ago to lackluster results.
In 232 plate appearances, he hit .157 with a .532 OPS and seven home runs. It was disappointing to see, especially considering the prodigious power numbers he produced at the University of Florida and in the Royals’ Minor League system in 2025. That said, there was a tremendous amount of pressure on him to carry the Royals offensively when he debuted, which didn’t help his progress or development as a 22-year-old player at the time.
This year, with less pressure on him, Caglianone has finally lived up to his prodigious draft hype.
The former Florida Gator is currently hitting .264 with an .800 OPS in 422 plate appearances. On Saturday, he hit two home runs, bringing his total up to 20. Caglianone also had two doubles on the day as well. Not only did he become the first MLB player this season to have two home runs and two doubles in the same game, but he is also the first player in Royals franchise history to accomplish the feat. He is also the first Royals player to have four extra-base hits in a single game since Kendrys Morales in 2015.
It hasn’t been the best year for Kansas City, as they are 49-69 after their 6-3 victory over the Cubs on Saturday. That said, seeing this progress from Cags in year two is an encouraging sign for not just the Royals, but fantasy managers who roster him in long-term leagues.
Let’s see how the other hitters did on Saturday
Jake McCarthy (COL): 4-5, 2 HR, 4 R, 3 RBI, 2 SB.
McCarthy’s breakout continues in Denver. On Saturday, he had four hits and two home runs (his 12th and 13th of the year). The Rockies outfielder also stole two bases, improving his total to 20 this season. In 394 plate appearances, he is hitting .305 with an .857 OPS. The 29-year-old former Virginia product has always been known for his defense, but this year he’s showing his bat can be potent as well.
Vladimir Guerrero (TOR): 2-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB.
It’s been a disappointing year for Guerrero, who’s only hitting .262 with a .699 OPS this season. On Saturday, he hit his seventh home run of the year and also collected two RBI to boot. There’s hope that Guerrero can finish the second half strong and build some momentum for 2027. That said, he will be 28 next year, not exactly an age when “improvement” happens.
Josh Naylor (SEA): 3-3, 2B, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB.
Naylor had a big home run on Saturday against the Rays, his eighth of the season. It hasn’t been a great sophomore season in Seattle, as he has only eight home runs and a .675 OPS in 466 plate appearances. The barrel rate (4.4%) and hard-hit rate (35.9%) are both down, and his dwindling bat speed (70.2 MPH) isn’t encouraging either.
Rhys Hoskins (CLE): 2-3, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB.
The Guardians’ deficit in the AL Central got larger on Saturday, as the White Sox won 6-3. Hoskins was a bright spot, as he had two hits and launched his 13th home run of the year. Hoskins is serviceable as a platoon option, as his .703 OPS is decent. That said, he has a .183 average, which is low, even for his standards. Safe to say, the 33-year-old first baseman may not be a viable fantasy player anymore in any format.
George Lombard Jr. (NYY): 2-3, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB.
The “Lombard Lovers” are definitely feeling the love. On Saturday, the Yankees rookie collected two hits and launched his second career home run. For the season, he is hitting .385 with a 1.346 OPS. It’s only 16 plate appearances, but Lombard has given the Yankees a much-needed jolt at precisely the right time.
Jackson Holliday (BAL): 2-3, 2B, HR, R, RBI, BB.
There are many distractions in Birdland, especially with reports that Gunnar Henderson wants out of Baltimore. Saturday only added to those concerns, as they lost 5-1 to the Rangers in Arlington, Texas. A bright spot? Holliday, who had two hits and launched his sixth home run of the year. It’s been another injury-plagued season for the 22-year-old infielder, but he is hitting .305 with an .807 OPS after the All-Star Break.
Ian Happ (CHC): 2-4, 2B, HR, R, RBI.
The Cubs lost in Kansas City, but it was a nice night for Happ, who was hitless in August going into this game. In addition to snapping his 0-for-20 streak, he also collected his 19th home run of the year. The Cubs’ playoff spot looks good with them holding a six-game lead in the Wild Card race. That said, for them to make a deep playoff run, they need a productive Happ.
Eugenio Suárez (CIN): 1-3, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB.
It hasn’t been the “homecoming” Suarez expected this year. After hitting 49 bombs a year ago with Arizona and Seattle, he has just 16 this year, his latest coming on Saturday night. He’s hitting .204 with a .688 OPS, and at 35 years old, Suarez may be in the final years of his career.
Brandon Lowe (PIT): 1-4, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB.
The Pirates have faded in the postseason hunt, and a long IL stint for Ryan O’Hearn doesn’t help. However, Pittsburgh kept their hopes alive with a 9-0 win over the Mets on Saturday. The catalyst? Lowe, who launched his 25th home run of the year. It’s been quite the year for Lowe in his first season in Pittsburgh, as he also has a .254 average and .807 OPS in 490 plate appearances.
Munetaka Murakami (CHW): 1-3, HR, R, RBI, BB.
Murakami is truly an intriguing dilemma for fantasy managers. On one end, his home run production is fantastic. He launched his 26th home run of the year on Saturday, and he looks locked in again after a stint on the IL. Conversely, he is only hitting .237, and he has a 33.7% K%. With a K% that high, it’s unlikely that the average will improve anytime soon. In OBP leagues? Murakami is one of fantasy’s best players. In traditional 5×5 leagues? It’s not quite as clear-cut, though the homers, runs, and RBI production make up for his batting average issue for now.
