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.

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.”

“I think Caglianone is the key. I really think he’s going to take off.”

Harold and Matty V talk about potential options for the Royals outfield. pic.twitter.com/QctC8lnS35

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 22, 2025

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.

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.

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.