Caglianone swaps jerseys with old friend at Spring Breakout
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- When Royals top prospect and MLB’s No. 22 prospect Jac Caglianone stepped to the plate in the seventh inning Friday night, he saw the D-backs' outfielders take a step back. Well, maybe a few steps back. Arizona pitcher Philip Abner, watching from the dugout, thought that was
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- When Royals top prospect and MLB’s No. 22 prospect Jac Caglianone stepped to the plate in the seventh inning Friday night, he saw the D-backs' outfielders take a step back. Well, maybe a few steps back.
Arizona pitcher Philip Abner, watching from the dugout, thought that was probably smart.
"Everything he hits,” Abner said, “is hard.”
Abner, Caglianone's former teammate and roommate at the University of Florida, knows this all too well. Sure enough, Caglianone did indeed hit the snot out of a fastball from D-backs prospect Daniel Eagen, a 109.6 mph rocket that headed straight for the glove of left fielder Anderdson Rojas.
Another hard-hit out on an unusually chilly night in Scottsdale, one of several for the Royals’ prospects in their 5-2 loss to the D-backs' prospects in their Spring Breakout game.
"When I hit it and didn’t see the left fielder move, that’s such a bad feeling,” Caglianone said, laughing. “But I was just trying to not do too much. Took that first hack on a curveball, then just had to reset. Hit that ball really hard. Just right where they were standing."
Caglianone went 1-for-4 and played all eight innings the Royals were in the field at first base.
After the game, Caglianone and Abner, who didn’t pitch Friday, swapped jerseys behind home plate. They were set on making it happen after finding out the D-backs would host the Royals in the second year of Spring Breakout.
Caglianone was hoping to face Abner, whom the D-backs selected in the sixth round of the 2023 Draft out of Florida, a year before Caglianone went to the Royals with the No. 6 overall pick.
"This is an important game, especially against the Royals with Jac, and it’s just fun to be a part of it even if we didn’t get to face each other,” Abner said.
"You couldn’t have drawn it up any better,” Caglianone added. “Especially with the jersey swap. It’s always nice to see Phil. We had two years together at Florida and they were super fun and memorable. It’s cool to see him again and do this."
📩 SUBSCRIBE TO THE BASEBALL TRAVELER NEWSLETTER
Caglianone did record a knock off Abner in the Arizona Fall League last year, so he still holds bragging rights over his fellow Gator.
"Good extension, good curveball,” Caglianone said of Abner. “He’s got like a cut-ride heater, so it kind of plays games with your mind when you see it come in because it looks like it’ll break, but it won’t.”
But Abner knows what he wants to do when he is able to face Caglianone again.
"In the Fall League, I blew him up with a fastball, and then he smacked another fastball,” Abner said. “Definitely next time I've got to get some breaking balls away, try to get some swing-and-miss. You can only throw Jac so many fastballs before he smacks one.”
Mozzicato’s velocity
Frank Mozzicato had to wait his turn to pitch on Friday, but it was worth the wait. The Royals’ No. 12 prospect struck out two in the final two innings, and what stood out almost as much as the two zeros he threw on the board was the velocity that was flashing up there.
Mozzicato topped out at 93.7 mph and averaged 92.4 mph. At High-A Quad Cities last year, Mozzicato was throwing 88-89 mph with his fastball, leading to some concerning underlying metrics despite the 3.45 ERA he posted over 22 starts. His strikeout rate dipped to 21.3%, while his walk rate remained high at 14.5%.
A focus this offseason on his mindset on the mound and mentality off it has Mozzicato pitching “freer” this spring, he said. And the Royals have zeroed in on Mozzicato’s delivery, trying to shorten his arm action, to lead to better command.
Time will tell if all the work Mozzicato has done in the offseason and so far this spring will pay off for the left-hander, the Royals’ first-round pick in 2021. He’ll likely be heading to Double-A to begin the season, where better hitters will challenge him. But he certainly looked the part Friday night, mowing down three batters in the seventh inning and working around a walk and a single in the eighth.
"Last year, I learned a lot about myself and really honed in on my mechanics and how I’m feeling,” Mozzicato said. “So I definitely think it’s in me. But what’s most important is getting outs at the end of the day. That’s what they pay you for."
Vazquez is ‘fast’
Daniel Vazquez, the Royals’ No. 27 prospect, was 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored and tried to get things going for the Kansas City offense when he tripled in the sixth inning. He was ready for a 2-0 fastball and got one in the zone, smoking it the opposite way into the right-field corner.
The Royals’ second baseman was thinking double out of the box, but hit the gas when he saw the ball go down the line.
"And I am fast,” Vazquez said. “This game was pretty fun. I had a good time with my team and facing [the D-backs], who have good players. Everyone on the field was good. The competition was really good.”
The Royals were aggressive when they sent Vazquez to Single-A Columbia as an 18-year-old. Three seasons later, he looks to finally be ready for the next level. Now 21, Vazquez is bigger, stronger and faster and seems to have made improvements with his swing to be ready for High-A this year.
While Vazquez is by no means a finished product and still needs to see improvement for him to reach his ceiling, he’s hitting more line drives now, can work a walk like he did in the ninth inning Friday and create some chaos on the bases when needed.
Anne Rogers covers the Royals for MLB.com.
GOING TO BAT FOR SMALL BUSINESS PRESENTED BY PNC RETURNS FOR 2025 LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS SEASON
EASTLAKE, Ohio – March 10, 2025 – The Lake County Captains announced that its “Going to Bat for Small Business” program will return for a second season, in collaboration with PNC Bank. The initiative is designed to bolster small businesses across Northeast Ohio. Going to Bat for Small Business presented
2024 MIDWEST LEAGUE CHAMPION LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS UNVEIL ACTION-PACKED 2025 PROMOTIONAL SCHEDULE
Highlights include 1995 Tribe Anniversary, Travis Bazzana Bobblehead, State Fair Weekend, Bubblefest & More. TICKETS ON SALE NOW EASTLAKE, OHIO – February 19th, 2025 – The Lake County Captains are excited to unveil an electrifying promotional schedule for the 2025 season, packed with can’t-miss theme nights, historic celebrations, and unforgettable
Lake County Captains Introduce New Bat Dog: Mokoro!
EASTLAKE, Ohio – The Lake County Captains are thrilled to announce Mokoro as their new bat dog for the 2025 season! Mokoro will be bringing joy to fans as she retrieves bats and balls during Thursday home games at Classic Auto Group Park alongside Victoria Brody, her owner and professional
Lake County Captains Announce 2025 Dog Days Schedule
EASTLAKE, Ohio – The Lake County Captains are excited to announce the return of their popular "Dawg Days" at Classic Auto Group Park for the 2025 season! Fans are encouraged to bring their furry friends along to enjoy the action-packed baseball season, with special opportunities to share the fun with
Lake County Captains Announce 2025 Coaching Staff
EASTLAKE, Ohio – In conjunction with the Cleveland Guardians, the Lake County Captains today announced their coaching staff for the 2025 season. Lake County’s staff will once again be led by Manager Omir Santos, who returns as the Captains’ skipper for his third season. Ordomar Valdez returns as Lake County’s
Lake County Captains Named 2024 Baseball America MiLB Team of the Year
EASTLAKE, OH – Baseball America announced today that the Lake County Captains, the High-A Affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians, have been named their 2024 MiLB Team of the Year. The Captains finished the regular season with a record of 77-53 (.592), compiling the highest percentage in the Midwest League and
Two Captains Named to 2024 All-MiLB Prospect Second Team
EASTLAKE, OH – On Monday, September 30, Minor League Baseball announced its 2024 All-MiLB Prospect Teams during the 2024 MiLB Awards Show on MLB Network. Two Lake County Captains garnered Second Team honors for the 2024 campaign. SS Angel Genao, MLB Pipeline’s No. 4 Cleveland and No. 72 overall prospect,
LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS’ JEN YORKO MAKES HISTORY AS THE FIRST FEMALE GENERAL MANAGER TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP IN MIDWEST LEAGUE HISTORY
Eastlake, OH – The Lake County Captains, the High-A Affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians, are proud to announce that General Manager Jen Yorko has made history as the first female General Manager to win a Midwest League Championship. Yorko, who has been with the organization since 2007, led the Captains
Four Captains Named 2024 Midwest League All-Stars, Cooper Ingle Named Most Valuable Player
EASTLAKE, OH – On Thursday, September 19, Minor League Baseball announced its High-A All-Star Teams for the 2024 season. Four Lake County Captains were named Midwest League All-Stars for the 2024 campaign. C Cooper Ingle, MLB Pipeline’s No. 13 Cleveland prospect, SS Angel Genao, MLB Pipeline’s No. 5 Cleveland and
Captains Win Second Midwest League Title With 9-4 Victory Over Timber Rattlers
EASTLAKE, OH – The Lake County Captains (77-53) (4-1) won their second Midwest League title in franchise history with a 9-4 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (77-54) (3-2) on Wednesday at Classic Auto Group Park. After falling 5-4 at Wisconsin in Game 1 of the 2024 Midwest League Championship
Captains win first Midwest League crown since 2010
It had been 14 years since the Lake County Captains won the championship. But after one of the most dominant seasons in Midwest League history, the Guardians' High-A affiliate ousted the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers with a 9-4 victory on Wednesday in a winner-take-all Game 3 at Classic Auto Group Park.
Captains Sink Timber Rattlers 6-2, Force Winner-Take-All Game 3 for Midwest League Title
EASTLAKE, OH – The Lake County Captains (77-53) (3-1) scored five unanswered runs to outlast the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (77-54) (3-1) by a score of 6-2 on Tuesday night at Classic Auto Group Park. With the victory, the Captains have now forced a third game to decide the 2024 Midwest
Captains Host Timber Rattlers for Game 2 of 2024 MWL Championship Series With Season on the Line
EASTLAKE, OH – Trailing 1-0 in the best-of-three set, the Lake County Captains (77-53) (2-1) will host the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (77-54) (3-0) for Game 2 of the 2024 Midwest League Championship Series Classic Auto Group Park on Tuesday at 6:35 p.m The Captains seek to win Game 2 and
Timber Rattlers Outlast Captains in Game 1 of Midwest League Championship Series
GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Lake County Captains (77-53) (2-1) fell by a score of 5-4 to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (77-54) (3-0) in Game 1 of the Midwest League Championship Series on Sunday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The game featured two ties and four
Captains Advance to Midwest League Championship Series With 5-4 Win Over Dragons
EASTLAKE, OH – The Lake County Captains (77-53) (2-0) scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to defeat the Dayton Dragons (74-58) (0-2) by a score of 5-4, advancing to their fourth Midwest League Championship Series in franchise history, and second in the last three seasons. 2B
Cardiac Captains Defeat Dragons 4-3 in Game 1 of Midwest League East Division Championship Series
DAYTON, OH – With the Lake County Captains (77-53) (1-0) leading the Dayton Dragons (74-58) (0-1) 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth, LHP Shawn Rapp inherited runners on the corners with no outs. The left-hander got a swinging strikeout, a successful play at the plate from 1B Ralphy Velazquez
Captains and Dragons Meet in 2024 Midwest League East Division Championship Series
DAYTON, OH – The Lake County Captains (77-53) and Dayton Dragons (74-58), the High-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, meet in a best-of-three series for the Midwest League East Division title and a trip to the Midwest League Championship Series starting Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. from Day Air Ballpark in
Captain of the Week (8/27-9/1): Wuilfredo Antunez
EASTLAKE, OH – After each series this season, the Lake County Captains will spotlight a Captain of the Week, presented by Official League, showcasing a player and their strong performance over the previous week. For the week of August 27 through September 1, Lake County is recognizing OF Wuilfredo Antunez
Captains Outpower Kernels 6-3 in Final 2024 Regular-Season Home Game
EASTLAKE, OH – The Lake County Captains (32-26, 73-51) slugged three home runs to beat the Cedar Rapids Kernels (27-33, 64-60) 6-3 in their final regular-season home game on Sunday at Classic Auto Group Park. The Captains won this week’s series 4-2, and the season series 8-4. Lake County scored
Rivas’s Walk-Off RBI Single Leads Captains to 4-3 Win Over Kernels
EASTLAKE, OH – In the fifth game of a scheduled six-game series, the Lake County Captains (31-26, 72-51) defeated the Cedar Rapids Kernels (27-32, 64-59) by a score of 4-3 at Classic Auto Group Park in Eastlake. With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth
Velazquez and Mooney Power Captains to 7-4 Win Over Kernels
EASTLAKE, OH – In the fourth game of a scheduled six-game series, the Lake County Captains (30-26, 71-51) defeated the Cedar Rapids Kernels (27-31, 64-58) by a score of 7-4 at Classic Auto Group Park in Eastlake. Captains LF Ralphy Velazquez, MLB Pipeline’s No. 5 Cleveland and No. 75 overall
Bazzana Doubles Twice, Captains Fall to Kernels 5-2
EASTLAKE, OH – In the third game of a scheduled six-game series, the Lake County Captains (29-26, 70-51) fell to the Cedar Rapids Kernels (27-29, 64-57) by a score of 5-2 at Classic Auto Group Park in Eastlake. Lake County’s only scoring of the night came in the bottom of
Malmö Oat Milkers’ Comeback Comes Up Short in 7-5 Loss to Cedar Rapids
EASTLAKE, OH – The Malmö Oat Milkers (29-25, 70-50) scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth, but fell short in a 7-5 loss versus the Cedar Rapids Kernels (26-29, 63-57) at Classic Auto Group Park. In the bottom of the ninth, Oat Milkers C Johnny Tincher and LF
Captains Defeat Kernels in Rain-Shortened Series Opener
EASTLAKE, OH – In the first game of a scheduled six-game series, the Lake County Captains (29-24, 70-49) defeated the Cedar Rapids Kernels (25-30, 62-57) by a score of 5-2 on Tuesday night at Classic Auto Group Park in Eastlake. The game was declared official after the top of the
Captain of the Week (8/20-8/25): Dylan DeLucia
EASTLAKE, OH – After each series this season, the Lake County Captains will spotlight a Captain of the Week, presented by Official League, showcasing a player and their strong performance over the previous week. For the week of August 20 through 25, Lake County is recognizing RHP Dylan DeLucia as