Royals’ Jac Caglianone exits contest with shoulder injury

Kansas City Royals outfielder Jac Caglianone was removed from Tuesday night’s game against the San Francisco Giants due to right-shoulder soreness. The incident occurred during the top of the fifth inning at Kauffman Stadium, marking an early exit for the player in his second season with the club.

Caglianone was sprinting to cover ground near the foul line when he attempted a backhanded dive for a short fly ball struck by Giants catcher Jesus Rodriguez. He was unable to secure the ball and landed awkwardly on the ground. Despite the impact, he immediately popped up and threw the ball into the infield, although Rodriguez was subsequently called safe at second base.

Medical staff approached Caglianone immediately following the play, but he initially waved them off. He remained in the contest for the remainder of the fifth inning before the Royals’ training personnel decided to remove him from the game in the sixth inning. The specific nature and severity of the shoulder injury have not been disclosed.

The injury occurred during a pivotal moment in the frame, as the Giants scored twice in the sixth inning to take a 2-1 lead. Drew Gilbert singled off Rodriguez shortly after Caglianone’s departure, contributing to the shift in momentum for San Francisco.

Entering the contest, Caglianone held a .260 batting average with 16 home runs and 37 RBIs. The Royals currently sit in last place in the AL Central with a 41-60 record, though they have won three of their last four games following the All-Star break.