GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida two-way star Jac Caglianone<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/jac-caglianone/16365> did not wait long to have his name called on MLB Draft night, tying as the fourth-highest player taken in team history as the Kansas City Royals selected him with the sixth overall pick of the first round on Sunday night.
In going sixth overall, Caglianone ties former Gators John Burke (1991) and A.J. Puk (2016) as the fourth-highest Gator to be drafted. The power-hitting hurler also became the highest-drafted first baseman in program history, besting Matt LaPorta’s selection at seventh overall in 2007.
Additionally, Caglianone becomes the 20th first-round pick all-time out of Florida (26th including the post-draft secondary phase) and 14th since head coach Kevin O’Sullivan’s 2008 arrival. That total ranks second nationally. Florida has now had a first-round selection in each of the last-three seasons.
Caglianone now holds status as the 221st individual draft selection in UF baseball history and the 106th of the O’Sullivan era. He was notably announced by commissioner Rob Manfred as a two-way player.
Caglianone capped off one of the most impressive collegiate baseball careers of all-time this past season. Slashing .419/.544/.875 with a program-record 35 home runs, Caglianone made a team-high 16 starts for a 5-2 record, 4.76 ERA, .225 BAA and 83 strikeouts in 73 2/3 innings. He now owns each of the two-most-prolific home run seasons in Gators history with 35 and 33 the last two years.
His 2024 campaign was highlighted by three extraordinary feats, beginning by homering in an NCAA-record nine-straight games from April 6-19. Caglianone followed the act by going 66-consecutive plate appearances without a strikeout from April 7-27. The slugger then proceeded to post a 30-game hitting streak from March 23 through May 12 to tie the all-time program mark, finishing with hits in 62 of 66 games overall.
On top of that, Caglianone reached safely in 65 of 66 games while finishing the campaign with an active 52-game on-base streak. He even drew 32 more walks (58) than strikeouts (26), ranking as the 66th-most-difficult hitter to strikeout in the nation. By finishing with 104 hits, Caglianone tied the single-season program record and set a new career home run record at 75 homers – the third-highest total in SEC history. He also became the first SEC play ever to blast 30 big flies multiple times.
The Tampa, Fla. native concludes his career as a .355/.447/.760 hitter over 634 at bats, owning 225 hits, 189 RBI, 176 runs, eight stolen bases and the highest slugging percentage in team history. He made 34 starts on the bump from 2023-24, never missing a start and going 12-6 with a 4.55 ERA, .208 batting average against and 170 strikeouts in 148 1/3 frames.
Running List of Florida’s 2024 MLB Draft Picks
1B/LHP Jac Caglianone<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/jac-caglianone/16365> – Round 1, Pick 6 (Kansas City Royals)
What They’re Saying About Caglianone
MLB Pipeline
“Caglianone is the best two-way player in the nation, an easy early choice for the John Olerud Award given to college baseball’s best hitter/pitcher. He has some standout tools both on the mound and at the plate, though big steps forward as a hitter this spring have led most scouts to prefer his left-handed bat over his left-handed arm. A 6-foot-5 physical beast, Caglianone has top of the class left-handed raw power, and he gets to it, as evidenced by his Division I-leading 33 home runs in 2023. He’s cut his miss and chase rates in 2024 and has a miniscule strikeout rate this spring. He’s solid defensively at first base as well.”
Baseball America
“In terms of pure talent, it will be hard for any player in the 2024 class to match what Caglianone brings to the table. He’s a massive presence with a 6-foot-5, 250-pound frame and is one of the better college two-way players since Louisville’s Brendan McKay. Caglianone led the country with 33 home runs as a sophomore in 2023, then put together a second straight 30-plus homer season in 2024, when he also drastically improved his strikeout and walk rates. After striking out 18% of the time in his first two seasons, Caglianone cut that mark to 8.1% in 2024, while tripling his walk rate up to 16.8%. He has astounding raw power and some of the best top-end exit velocities in the country.”
Florida’s MLB Draft History
First Round Draft Picks in Program History (20)
2024: 1B/LHP Jac Caglianone<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/jac-caglianone/16365> – Round 1, Pick 6 (Kansas City Royals)
2023: RHP Hurston Waldrep<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/hurston-waldrep/15517> – Round 1, Pick 24 (Atlanta Braves)
2023: OF Wyatt Langford<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/wyatt-langford/15497> – Round 1, Pick 4 (Texas Rangers)
2022: OF Sterlin Thompson – Round 1, Pick 31 (Colorado Rockies)
2018: 3B Jonathan India – Round 1, Pick 5 (Cincinnati Reds)
2018: RHP Brady Singer – Round 1, Pick 18 (Kansas City Royals)
2018: Jackson Kowar – Round 1, Pick 33 (Kansas City Royals)
2017: RHP Alex Faedo – Round 1, Pick 18 (Detroit Tigers)
2016: LHP A.J. Puk – Round 1, Pick 6 (Oakland Athletics)
2016: RHP Dane Dunning – Round 1, Pick 29 (Washington Nationals)
2015: SS Richie Martin – Round 1, Pick 20 (Oakland Athletics)
2013: RHP Jonathon Crawford – Round 1, Pick 20 (Detroit Tigers)
2012: C Mike Zunino – Round 1, Pick 3 (Seattle Mariners)
2012: LHP/1B Brian Johnson – Round 1, Pick 31 (Boston Red Sox)
2007: 1B Matt LaPorta – Round 1, Pick 7 (Milwaukee Brewers)
1998: 1B/OF/LHP Brad Wilkerson – Round 1, Pick 33 (Montreal Expos)
1993: RHP Marc Valdes – Round 1, Pick 27 (Florida Marlins)
1992: RHP John Burke – Round 1, Pick 27 (Colorado Rockies)
1991: RHP John Burke – Round 1, Pick 6 (Houston Astros)
1989: RHP Jamie McAndrew – Round 1, Pick 28 (Los Angeles Dodgers)
1986: OF Scott Ruskin – Round 1, Pick 8 (Montreal Expos) *secondary phase*
1983: RHP Rich Rice – Round 1, Pick 3 (Baltimore Orioles) *secondary phase*
1983: SS Robby Thompson – Round 1, Pick 2 (San Francisco Giants) *secondary phase*
1981: LHP Rob Murphy – Round 1, Pick 3 (Cincinnati Reds) *secondary phase*
1981: RHP Randy O’Neal – Round 1, Pick 15 (Detroit Tigers) *secondary phase*
1978: C Jim Watkins – Round 1, Pick 1 (Atlanta Braves) *secondary phase*
Highest Drafted Players in Program History
1. 2012: C Mike Zunino – Round 1, Pick 3 (Seattle Mariners)
2. 2023: OF Wyatt Langford<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/wyatt-langford/15497> – Round 1, Pick 4 (Texas Rangers)
3. 2018: 3B Jonathan India – Round 1, Pick 5 (Cincinnati Reds)
T4. 2024: 2024: 1B/LHP Jac Caglianone<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/jac-caglianone/16365> – Round 1, Pick 6 (Kansas City Royals)
T4. 1991: RHP John Burke – Round 1, Pick 6 (Houston Astros)
T4. 2016: LHP A.J. Puk – Round 1, Pick 6 (Oakland Athletics)
7. 2007: 1B Matt LaPorta – Round 1, Pick 7 (Milwaukee Brewers)
T8. 2017: RHP Alex Faedo – Round 1, Pick 18 (Detroit Tigers)
T8. 2018: RHP Brady Singer – Round 1, Pick 18 (Kansas City Royals)
T10. 2013: RHP Jonathon Crawford – Round 1, Pick 20 (Detroit Tigers)
T10. 2015: SS Richie Martin – Round 1, Pick 20 (Oakland Athletics)
12. 2023: RHP Hurston Waldrep<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/hurston-waldrep/15517> – Round 1, Pick 24 (Atlanta Braves)
T13. 1992: RHP John Burke – Round 1, Pick 27 (Colorado Rockies)
T13. 1993: RHP Marc Valdes – Round 1, Pick 27 (Florida Marlins)
15. 1989: RHP Jamie McAndrew – Round 1, Pick 28 (Los Angeles Dodgers)
16. 2016: RHP Dane Dunning – Round 1, Pick 29 (Washington Nationals)
T17. 2022: OF Sterlin Thompson, Round 1, Pick 31 (Colorado Rockies)
T17. 2012: LHP/1B Brian Johnson – Round 1, Pick 31 (Boston Red Sox)
19. 2018: RHP Jackson Kowar – Round 1, Pick 33 (Kansas City Royals)
20. 1998: 1B/OF/LHP Brad Wilkerson – Round 1, Pick 33 (Montreal Expos)
21. 2021: OF Jud Fabian – Round 2, Pick 40 (Boston Red Sox)
T22. 2022: LHP Hunter Barco – Round 2, Pick 44 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
T22. 2019: SS Brady McConnell – Round 2, Pick 44 (Kansas City Royals)
T24. 2004: RHP Justin Hoyman – Round 2, Pick 47 (Cleveland Indians)
T24. 2016: RHP Logan Shore – Pick 2, Round 47 (Oakland Athletics)
26. 2016: OF Buddy Reed – Round 2, Pick 48 (San Diego Padres)
27. 1979: C Marc Sullivan – Round 2, Pick 52 (Boston Red Sox)
28. 2023: RHP Brandon Sproat<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-sproat/15508> – Round 2, Pick 56 (New York Mets)
29. 2012: SS Nolan Fontana – Round 2, Pick 61 (Houston Astros)
30. 2016: 1B Pete Alonso – Round 2, Pick 64 (New York Mets)
Highest Drafted First Basemen in Program History
1. 2024: 1B/LHP Jac Caglianone<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/jac-caglianone/16365> – Round 1, Pick 6 (Kansas City Royals)
2. 2007: 1B Matt LaPorta – Round 1, Pick 7 (Milwaukee Brewers)
3. 2012: 1B/LHP Brian Johnson – Round 1, Pick 31 (Boston Red Sox)
4. 1998: 1B/OF/LHP Brad Wilkerson – Round 1, Pick 33 (Montreal Expos)
5. 2016: 1B Pete Alonso – Round 2, Pick 64 (New York Mets)
6. 1981: 1B Dave Falcone – Round 5, Pick 128 (Baltimore Orioles)
7. 2004: 1B/OF C.J. Smith – Round 5, Pick 139 (Baltimore Orioles)
8. 2003: 1B C.J. Smith – Round 6, Pick 165 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
9. 1979: 1B Charles Sandberg – Round 9, Pick 234 (Boston Red Sox)
10. 2002: 1B Ryan Shealy – Round 11, Pick 321 (Colorado Rockies)
Highest Drafted Players Under HC Kevin O’Sullivan
1. 2012: C Mike Zunino – Round 1, Pick 3 (Seattle Mariners)
2. 2023: OF Wyatt Langford<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/wyatt-langford/15497> – Round 1, Pick 4 (Texas Rangers)
3. 2018: 3B Jonathan India – Round 1, Pick 5 (Cincinnati Reds)
T4. 2024: 1B/LHP Jac Caglianone<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/jac-caglianone/16365> – Round 1, Pick 6 (Kansas City Royals)
T4. 2016: LHP A.J. Puk – Round 1, Pick 6 (Oakland Athletics)
T6. 2017: RHP Alex Faedo – Round 1, Pick 18 (Detroit Tigers)
T6. 2018: RHP Brady Singer – Round 1, Pick 18 (Kansas City Royals)
T8. 2013: RHP Jonathon Crawford – Round 1, Pick 20 (Detroit Tigers)
T8. 2015: SS Richie Martin – Round 1, Pick 20 (Oakland Athletics)
10. 2023: RHP Hurston Waldrep<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/hurston-waldrep/15517> – Round 1, Pick 24 (Atlanta Braves)
11. 2016: RHP Dane Dunning – Round 1, Pick 29 (Washington Nationals)
T12. 2022: OF Sterlin Thompson – Round 1, Pick 31 (Colorado Rockies)
T12. 2012: LHP/1B Brian Johnson – Round 1, Pick 31 (Boston Red Sox)
14. 2018: RHP Jackson Kowar – Round 1, Pick 33 (Kansas City Royals)
15. 2021: OF Jud Fabian – Round 2, Pick 40 (Boston Red Sox)
T16. 2022: LHP Hunter Barco – Round 2, Pick 44 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
T16. 2019: SS Brady McConnell – Round 2, Pick 44 (Kansas City Royals)
18. 2016: RHP Logan Shore – Pick 2, Round 47 (Oakland Athletics)
19. 2016: OF Buddy Reed – Round 2, Pick 48 (San Diego Padres)
20. 2023: RHP Brandon Sproat<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-sproat/15508> – Round 2, Pick 56 (New York Mets)
All Draft Picks Under HC Kevin O’Sullivan (106)
2024: 1B/LHP Jac Caglianone<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/jac-caglianone/16365> – Round 1, Pick 6 (Kansas City Royals)
2023: INF Colby Halter<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/colby-halter/15495> – Round 17, Pick 496 (Oakland Athletics)
2023: LHP Philip Abner<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/philip-abner/15488> – Round 6, Pick 175 (Arizona Diamondbacks)
2023: SS Josh Rivera<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/josh-rivera/15504> – Round 3, Pick 81 (Chicago Cubs)
2023: RHP Brandon Sproat<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-sproat/15508> – Round 2, Pick 56 (New York Mets)
2023: RHP Hurston Waldrep<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/hurston-waldrep/15517> – Round 1, Pick 24 (Atlanta Braves)
2023: OF Wyatt Langford<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/wyatt-langford/15497> – Round 1, Pick 4 (Texas Rangers)
2023: OF Wyatt Langford<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/wyatt-langford/15497> – Round 1, Pick 4 (Texas Rangers)
2022: OF Sterlin Thompson – Round 1, Pick 31 (Colorado Rockies)
2022: LHP Hunter Barco – Round 2, Pick 44 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
2022: OF Jud Fabian – Round 2, Pick 67 (Baltimore Orioles)
2022: RHP Brandon Sproat<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-sproat/15508> – Round 3, Pick 90 (New York Mets)
2021: OF Jud Fabian<https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=14217> – Round 2, Pick 40 (Boston Red Sox)
2021: RHP Tommy Mace<https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=14223> – Round 2, Pick 69 (Cleveland Indians)
2021: C Nathan Hickey<https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=14220> – Round 5, Pick 136 (Boston Red Sox)
2021: RHP Christian Scott<https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=14231> – Round 5, Pick 142 (New York Mets)
2021: OF Jacob Young<https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=14236> – Round 7, Pick 203 (Washington Nationals)
2021: RHP Jack Leftwich<https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=14221> – Round 7, Pick 216 (Cleveland Indians)
2021: RHP Franco Aleman<https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=14238> – Round 10, Pick 306 (Cleveland Indians)
2019: SS Brady McConnell – Round 2, Pick 44 (Kansas City Royals)
2019: RHP Tyler Dyson – Round 5, Pick 153 (Washington Nationals)
2019: OF Wil Dalton – Round 8, Pick 257 (Boston Red Sox)
2019: OF Nelson Maldonado – Round 21, Pick 642 (Chicago Cubs)
2018: 3B Jonathan India – Round 1, Pick 5 (Cincinnati Reds)
2018: RHP Brady Singer – Round 1, Pick 18 (Kansas City Royals)
2018: RHP Jackson Kowar – Round 1, Pick 33 (Kansas City Royals)
2018: C JJ Schwarz – Round 8, Pick 233 (Oakland Athletics)
2018: SS Deacon Liput – Round 10, Pick 314 (Los Angeles Dodgers)
2018: RHP Michael Byrne – Round 14, Pick 409 (Cincinnati Reds)
2018: OF/LHP Nick Horvath – Round 25, Pick 745 (Baltimore Orioles)
2017: RHP Alex Faedo – Round 1, Pick 18 (Detroit Tigers)
2017: SS Dalton Guthrie – Round 6, Pick 173 (Philadelphia Phillies)
2017: C Mike Rivera – Round 6, Pick 192 (Cleveland Indians)
2017: C Mark Kolozsvary – Round 7, Pick 197 (Cincinnati Reds)
2017: RHP David Lee – Round 27, Pick 808 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
2017: RHP Frank Rubio – Round 29, Pick 876 (San Francisco Giants)
2017: 2B Deacon Liput – Round 29, Pick 880 (Los Angeles Dodgers)
2017: C JJ Schwarz – Round 38, Pick 1129 (Tampa Bay Rays)
2016: LHP A.J. Puk – Round 1, Pick 6 (Oakland Athletics)
2016: RHP Dane Dunning – Round 1, Pick 29 (Washington Nationals)
2016: RHP Logan Shore – Round 2, Pick 47 (Oakland Athletics)
2016: OF Buddy Reed – Round 2, Pick 48 (San Diego Padres)
2016: 1B Pete Alonso – Round 2, Pick 64 (New York Mets)
2016: RHP Shaun Anderson – Round 3, Pick 88 (Boston Red Sox)
2016: LHP Scott Moss – Round 4, Pick 108 (Cincinnati Reds)
2016: LHP Kirby Snead – Round 10, Pick 312 (Toronto Blue Jays)
2015: SS Richie Martin – Round 1, Pick 20 (Oakland Athletics)
2015: OF Harrison Bader – Round 3, Pick 100 (St. Louis Cardinals)
2015: RHP Eric Hanhold – Round 6, Pick 181 (Milwaukee Brewers)
2015: LHP Danny Young – Round 8, Pick 242 (Toronto Blue Jays)
2015: RHP Taylor Lewis – Round 9, Pick 270 (Atlanta Braves)
2015: 3B Josh Tobias – Round 10, Pick 294 (Philadelphia Phillies)
2015: LHP Bobby Poyner – Round 14, Pick 411 (Boston Red Sox)
2015: RHP Mike Vinson – Round 24, Pick 730 (Detroit Tigers)
2015: RHP Aaron Rhodes – Round 28, Pick 855 (Los Angeles Angels)
2014: C Taylor Gushue – Round 4, Pick 131 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
2014: RHP Justin Shafer – Round 8, Pick 234 (Toronto Blue Jays)
2014: RHP Karsten Whitson – Round 11, Pick 344 (Boston Red Sox)
2014: 2B Casey Turgeon – Round 24, Pick 735 (St. Louis Cardinals)
2014: RHP Ryan Harris – Round 26, Pick 794 (Boston Red Sox)
2014: RHP Keenan Kish – Round 34, Pick 1025 (Cincinnati Reds)
2013: RHP Jonathon Crawford – Round 1, Pick 20 (Detroit Tigers)
2013: LHP Daniel Gibson – Round 7, Pick 210 (Arizona Diamondbacks)
2013: OF Taylor Ratliff – Round 13, Pick 390 (Arizona Diamondbacks)
2013: RHP Johnny Magliozzi – Round 17, Pick 506 (New York Mets)
2013: SS Cody Dent – Round 22, Pick 676 (Washington Nationals)
2013: OF Jeff Driskel – Round 29, Pick 863 (Boston Red Sox)
2013: RHP Karsten Whitson – Round 37, Pick 1126 (Washington Nationals)
2012: C Mike Zunino – Round 1, Pick 3 (Seattle Mariners)
2012: LHP/1B Brian Johnson – Round 1, Pick 31 (Boston Red Sox)
2012: SS Nolan Fontana – Round 2, Pick 61 (Houston Astros)
2012: LHP Steven (Paco) Rodriguez – Round 2, Pick 82 (Los Angeles Dodgers)
2012: RHP Austin Maddox – Round 3, Pick 118 (Boston Red Sox)
2012: OF Preston Tucker – Round 7, Pick 219 (Houston Astros)
2012: RHP Hudson Randall – Round 7, Pick 244 (Detroit Tigers)
2012: OF Daniel Pigott – Round 9, Pick 292 (Cincinnati Reds)
2012: RHP Greg Larson – Round 20, Pick 631 (Boston Red Sox)
2011: LHP Nick Maronde – Round 3, Pick 104 (Los Angeles Angels)
2011: RHP Anthony DeSclafani – Round 6, Pick 199 (Toronto Blue Jays)
2011: RHP Alex Panteliodis – Round 9, Pick 282 (New York Mets)
2011: RHP Tommy Toledo – Round 11, Pick 341 (Milwaukee Brewers)
2011: 2B Josh Adams – Round 13, Pick 403 (Florida Marlins)
2011: 1B/OF Preston Tucker – Round 16, Pick 498 (Colorado Rockies)
2011: C Ben McMahan – Round 23, Pick 701 (Milwaukee Brewers)
2011: RHP Matt Campbell – Round 24, Pick 751 (Philadelphia Phillies)
2011: RHP Greg Larson – Round 29, Pick 885 (Los Angeles Angels)
2011: OF Bryson Smith – Round 34, Pick 1045 (Cincinnati Reds)
2011: OF Tyler Thompson – Round 46, Pick 1387 (Washington Nationals)
2010: LHP Kevin Chapman – Round 4, Pick 119 (Kansas City Royals)
2010: OF Matt den Dekker – Round 5, Pick 152 (New York Mets)
2010: RHP Tommy Toledo – Round 32, Pick 975 (Minnesota Twins)
2010: C Hampton Tignor – Round 36, Pick 1104 (Los Angeles Angels)
2010: RHP Justin Poovey – Round 41, Pick 1254 (Los Angeles Angels)
2010: RHP Matt Campbell – Round 43, Pick 1297 (Cincinnati Reds)
2009: RHP Billy Bullock – Round 2, Pick 70 (Minnesota Twins)
2009: OF Avery Barnes – Round 11, Pick 331 (Colorado Rockies)
2009: LHP Tony Davis – Round 12, Pick 372 (Minnesota Twins)
2009: OF Matt den Dekker – Round 16, Pick 475 (Pittsburgh Pirates)
2009: RHP Patrick Keating – Round 20, Pick 602 (Kansas City Royals)
2009: C Buddy Munroe – Round 22, Pick 672 (Minnesota Twins)
2009: LHP Stephen Locke – Round 22, Pick 681 (Los Angeles Angels)
2009: SS Mike Mooney – Round 23, Pick 686 (Baltimore Orioles)
2009: OF Riley Cooper – Round 25, Pick 754 (Texas Rangers)
2009: LHP Kevin Chapman – Round 50, Pick 1513 (Chicago White Sox)
2008: SS Cole Figueroa – Round 6, Pick 195 (San Diego Padres)
2008: OF Avery Barnes – Round 40, Pick 1201 (Washington Nationals)
2008: RHP Josh Edmondson – Round 41, Pick 1249 (Los Angeles Angels)
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