Who is Jac Caglianone? The Florida Gators two-way star bears a striking resemblance to the Angels Japanese superstar, Shohei Ohtani.
Five years ago, Japanese sensation Shohei Ohtani took the baseball world by storm when he transitioned to play baseball in the MLB for the Angels. Ohtani was able to hit the ball with the best hitters in the league as well as pitch among the best starters in the MLB. He routinely hit 400-foot home runs as well as throwing 100 MPH on the bump.
This kind of once-in-a-lifetime production inspired many players in the younger generation to continue their dreams as two-way players. One of those inspired teenagers was Jac Caglianone, a 15-year-old high schooler who eyed following in the path that Ohtani laid out.
For most, this kind of dream isn't a realistic option. But Florida's Caglianone was different than most.
Jactani: Florida's Jac Caglianone has generational potential like Shohei Ohtani
Caglianone leads NCAA Division 1 baseball in home runs with 31. Ohtani leads the MLB in home runs with 22. Caglianone has pitched to a sub-4 ERA while striking out over 10 hitters per nine innings. Ohtani has pitched to a similar ERA while striking out 11 hitters per nine innings. They are both left-handed swingers with generational raw power and an overpowering fastball on the mound. The similarities are really striking between the two.
Caglianone has led the Gators through the 2023 season. As just a sophomore, the 20-year-old has slugged 31 bombs in just over 60 games. He sits one home run away from tying the BBCOR record, a home run record since based on the type of bat being swung in the NCAA. In 2011, the NCAA made the switch from BESR bats to BBCOR bats, as BESR bats had notoriously more pop.
Caglianone has been named a Golden Spikes Award finalist, alongside Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes. Skenes and Crews will likely be the first two players taken in this year's MLB Draft.
Caglianone makes his NCAA College World Series debut on Friday when the Florida Gators take on the Virginia Cavaliers. The 20-year-old two-way prospect is draft eligible in 2024, where he will likely be a top 5 pick in the MLB Draft.
