Brady Singer reacts to Royals drafting Jac Caglianone: 'Good idea to pick a Gator'
Brady Singer seems very happy that the Kansas City Royals selected Florida Gators star Jac Caglianone No. 6 overall in this year’s MLB draft. While speaking to Royals’ reporter Anne Rogers, Singer revealed what he told general manager J.J. Picollo after the team selected Caglianone.
“I told him it’s a good idea to pick a Gator,” Singer said, per MLB.com. “It’s really cool to keep that going. Always love to get more Gators in the clubhouse.”
Singer, 27, is a Florida alum and was named SEC Pitcher of the Year as a junior in 2018. In that season, Singer posted a 2.25 ERA with a 12-3 record. Caglianoe, 21, was a pitcher and first baseman for the Gators and has the school record for most career home runs with 75.
“I was hoping he’d get down there to us,” Singer said. “I know he was slated anywhere in the Top 10. For him to get to us was really cool. Just thinking about Bobby [Witt Jr.] and Vinnie [Pasquantino] and him in that lineup together. The future is going to be unbelievable.”
Singer and Caglianone are Florida natives and have worked out together at Sukha Club in Tampa. They have never faced each other in the offseason workouts, but Singer has been impressed with Caglianone’s power.
“Just a different sound coming off his bat,” Singer said. “Obviously, the big body is producing a lot of power, and it’s an aggressive swing. So when he gets a hold of one, it’s fun to watch.”
Jac Caglianone says meeting Brady Singer for the first time was ‘daunting’
Caglianone admitted to being intimidated when he first met Singer. “It’s always daunting when you see professional athletes and you’re not even in college yet,” he said. “A little timid at first, but the more we kept playing and the more we bonded over being from Florida, it only helped it. This past offseason, working with him, picking his mind because he’s such a competitor. I’ve learned plenty from him, and there’s a lot more, too.”
The Royals signed Caglianone to a reported $7.5 million contract this week and will head to Arizona to get his pro baseball career started. He will only hit this season, but its possible he could do some pitching for the Royals.
“We think the world of Jac’s talents, abilities and what he can do for our big league club,” Picollo said, per MLB.com. “From our perspective, we start thinking about future rosters and lineups and what this is going to look like and how it’s going to work. You don’t want to put the cart before the horse because there’s a lot of work that needs to be done.”