Jac Caglianone rounds the bases after his 75th career home run on Wednesday against Kentucky in the College World Series. (Photo: John Paternoster/UAA Communications)
Cags Being Cags: Caglianone Sparks Lineup at Top of Order, Becomes Gators' Home Run King
Wednesday, June 19, 2024 | Baseball, Scott Carter
OMAHA, Neb. — Jac Caglianone has a way of being the heart of the story, even when he's playing a supporting role.
He's just that good.
In Florida's 15-4 victory over Kentucky on Wednesday morning in a College World Series elimination game, Gators designated hitter Brody Donay blasted two home runs and drove in five. Third-year sophomore pitcher Pierce Coppola, more than two years and two major surgeries since making his college debut in February 2022, earned his first career victory. Young relievers Jake Clemente and Alex Philpott combined to toss four shutout innings.
Still, Caglianone did something he had never done at UF: he batted leadoff.
Gators head coach Kevin O'Sullivan, seeking to spark a lineup that hit .190 (12-for-63) in UF's first two games in Omaha, called Caglianone on Tuesday night to let him know he planned to move him from second to the top of the order against the Wildcats.
The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Caglianone had the kind of game that would make Rickey Henderson proud. He went 2-for-2 with three walks (one intentional), a stolen base, three runs scored and a homer.
"I was all-in,'' Caglianone quipped afterward. "Swiped a bag and showed off the wheels. I was kind of the leadoff guy everybody wanted me to be. I embraced the role."
Caglianone singled his first time up and scored on Colby Shelton's RBI double to tie the game 1-1 in the bottom of the first inning. The Gators were just getting started, with Caglianone the match to spark the explosion as UF sent 11 men to the plate and scored seven runs in the first inning, Donay's grand slam the highlight.
Caglianone walked in the second, was intentionally walked in the third, and walked in the fifth. He moved to second on a wild pitch in the fifth and then stole third base. Caglianone scored his second run of the game on Tyler Shelnut's RBI bunt.
By the time Caglianone stepped to the plate in the sixth inning, the Gators led 14-4, and the Wildcats were emptying their bench. Facing Kentucky reliever Johnny Hummel, the Wildcats' sixth pitcher of the game, Caglianone crushed a full-count pitch over the bullpen and into the right-field seats for a solo homer.
But this blast carried extra weight: it was Caglianone's 75th career home run, breaking UF's career record held by Matt LaPorta for the past 17 years. Caglianone has a career-high 35 home runs this season after setting a single-season school record a year ago with 33. He is now tied for eighth on the NCAA's all-time career homer list.
LaPorta, in the stands at Charles Schwab Field, offered a tip of the cap as Caglianone rounded the bases.
"It kind of hit me there,'' Caglianone said of returning to the dugout and being congratulated by his coaches and teammates. "I was really cool."
The Gators recruited Caglianone out of Plant High School in Tampa more as a left-handed pitcher who could throw in the upper 90s. They knew he would be a two-way player in college, but few could have predicted what type of threat Caglianone would become in the batter's box.
Caglianone has reached base safely in 12 of 15 plate appearances in Florida's first three games of the CWS. He is 5-for-8 with two homers, two singles, a double, four RBI, six walks (three intentional) and has been hit by a pitch.
"We really didn't know what we had with him offensively or what he was going to turn out to be,'' O'Sullivan said. "We did recruit him as a two-way. He's an unbelievable athlete. And I think the thing that really sticks out to me is everything he does and says, and the answers he gives [are] all genuine.
"We're all extremely happy for him with how he's performed."
On any other day, Coppola could have easily garnered the headlines after winning his CWS debut to help the Gators improve to 8-2 in the NCAA Tournament and keep their season alive. Coppola, who missed nearly two full seasons due to back and arm injuries, tossed a career-high five innings against the Wildcats. He threw 98 pitches, struck out a career-high nine, and pitched what O'Sullivan called his best game for the Gators.
"My fastball felt good off the hand,'' he said. "I was able to go in and out with it and just be able to draw my slider in whenever I needed to. It means a lot. It's been a long journey."
And don't forget Donay, who homered twice and recorded his first three-hit game. The Gators delivered a team effort at the perfect time. They will need another one in their rematch against the Aggies on Wednesday night.
They are sure to follow Caglianone's lead. He is the straw that stirs the UF lineup. But he does it in a classy way.
"It's pretty easy to be humble when you've got, like, the best player in the country on your team that's very humble," Coppola said. "He keeps everybody in check."
He's just that good.
In Florida's 15-4 victory over Kentucky on Wednesday morning in a College World Series elimination game, Gators designated hitter Brody Donay blasted two home runs and drove in five. Third-year sophomore pitcher Pierce Coppola, more than two years and two major surgeries since making his college debut in February 2022, earned his first career victory. Young relievers Jake Clemente and Alex Philpott combined to toss four shutout innings.
Still, Caglianone did something he had never done at UF: he batted leadoff.
Gators head coach Kevin O'Sullivan, seeking to spark a lineup that hit .190 (12-for-63) in UF's first two games in Omaha, called Caglianone on Tuesday night to let him know he planned to move him from second to the top of the order against the Wildcats.
The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Caglianone had the kind of game that would make Rickey Henderson proud. He went 2-for-2 with three walks (one intentional), a stolen base, three runs scored and a homer.
"I was all-in,'' Caglianone quipped afterward. "Swiped a bag and showed off the wheels. I was kind of the leadoff guy everybody wanted me to be. I embraced the role."
Tip of the cap 🧢
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) June 19, 2024
Gator great Matt LaPorta congratulates Cags on breaking his all-time HR Record. 🤝#GoGators pic.twitter.com/FqjUpipApP
Caglianone singled his first time up and scored on Colby Shelton's RBI double to tie the game 1-1 in the bottom of the first inning. The Gators were just getting started, with Caglianone the match to spark the explosion as UF sent 11 men to the plate and scored seven runs in the first inning, Donay's grand slam the highlight.
Caglianone walked in the second, was intentionally walked in the third, and walked in the fifth. He moved to second on a wild pitch in the fifth and then stole third base. Caglianone scored his second run of the game on Tyler Shelnut's RBI bunt.
By the time Caglianone stepped to the plate in the sixth inning, the Gators led 14-4, and the Wildcats were emptying their bench. Facing Kentucky reliever Johnny Hummel, the Wildcats' sixth pitcher of the game, Caglianone crushed a full-count pitch over the bullpen and into the right-field seats for a solo homer.
But this blast carried extra weight: it was Caglianone's 75th career home run, breaking UF's career record held by Matt LaPorta for the past 17 years. Caglianone has a career-high 35 home runs this season after setting a single-season school record a year ago with 33. He is now tied for eighth on the NCAA's all-time career homer list.
LaPorta, in the stands at Charles Schwab Field, offered a tip of the cap as Caglianone rounded the bases.
"It kind of hit me there,'' Caglianone said of returning to the dugout and being congratulated by his coaches and teammates. "I was really cool."
The Gators recruited Caglianone out of Plant High School in Tampa more as a left-handed pitcher who could throw in the upper 90s. They knew he would be a two-way player in college, but few could have predicted what type of threat Caglianone would become in the batter's box.
Caglianone has reached base safely in 12 of 15 plate appearances in Florida's first three games of the CWS. He is 5-for-8 with two homers, two singles, a double, four RBI, six walks (three intentional) and has been hit by a pitch.
"We really didn't know what we had with him offensively or what he was going to turn out to be,'' O'Sullivan said. "We did recruit him as a two-way. He's an unbelievable athlete. And I think the thing that really sticks out to me is everything he does and says, and the answers he gives [are] all genuine.
"We're all extremely happy for him with how he's performed."
On any other day, Coppola could have easily garnered the headlines after winning his CWS debut to help the Gators improve to 8-2 in the NCAA Tournament and keep their season alive. Coppola, who missed nearly two full seasons due to back and arm injuries, tossed a career-high five innings against the Wildcats. He threw 98 pitches, struck out a career-high nine, and pitched what O'Sullivan called his best game for the Gators.
"My fastball felt good off the hand,'' he said. "I was able to go in and out with it and just be able to draw my slider in whenever I needed to. It means a lot. It's been a long journey."
And don't forget Donay, who homered twice and recorded his first three-hit game. The Gators delivered a team effort at the perfect time. They will need another one in their rematch against the Aggies on Wednesday night.
They are sure to follow Caglianone's lead. He is the straw that stirs the UF lineup. But he does it in a classy way.
"It's pretty easy to be humble when you've got, like, the best player in the country on your team that's very humble," Coppola said. "He keeps everybody in check."
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