B: Left T: Left
HT: 6 ‘5 WT: 250 lbs
Hometown: Tampa, FL
School: University of Florida
2024 Stats:
Hitting: 66 G, .419 BA .544 OBP, .875 SLG 83 R, 35 HR, 72 RBI, 4 SB, 58 BB, 26 SO
Pitching: 73.2 IP, 5-2, 4.76 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 50 BB, 83 K
Caglianone might have the best power tool in this draft class; he produces elite exit velocities to all fields. His transition to wood should be smooth, as this tool will play at the professional level. His hands are quick, and his bat speed is top of the class, producing an elite amount of hard contact. He produced a 42% ground ball rate in 2024, which will need to improve to fully maximize his massive power potential.
Coming from Tampa, Florida, Caglianone's wide setup at the plate provides him with excellent balance, enabling him to effectively handle off-speed pitches. Notably, he significantly reduced his strikeouts this season, from 18.1% in '23 to 8.2% in '24, by lowering both his chase and miss rates. This is impressive, given the high level of pitching he faced in the SEC. While his chase rate remains in the mid-thirties, it is an area he is actively working on.
Caglianone is a below-average runner but gets out of the box well and shows good instincts on the basepaths. He is limited defensively to first base but can handle himself on the dirt competently and moves well around the bag for his size. Caglianone has a strong throwing arm; however, scouts are mixed on his ability to play in the outfield.
Caglianone was a two-way player for UF but will probably have to give up pitching at some point early in his professional career due to spotty command. He pitched in the mid to upper 90's in 2024 (up a couple of ticks from 2023) with his fastball, touching 100 at times; his velocity dropped to 2023 levels near the end of this Junior season. His second-best pitch is his plus change-up, which produces swing-and-miss due to its late life. He also throws a gyro-spinning slider and a cutter that can touch 90 mph; both produce moderate results and are graded as average offerings. He pitched a career-high 73.2 innings for the Gators in 2024, as they relied on him to get outs. His ceiling as an arm is a fringe reliever if he can significantly improve his control.
Standing at 6 feet 5 inches and weighing 250 pounds, Caglianone is a physical specimen who commands attention both at the plate and on the mound. His dedication to maintaining his physique is evident in his performance. Caglianone is a high-risk, high-reward player, and is a projected top 5 pick in this year's draft.