PITTSBURGH -- A contrite Jac Caglianone was back in the Royals’ starting lineup as the designated hitter on Saturday.
Manager Matt Quatraro benched Caglianone in Friday night’s loss to the Pirates at PNC Park for disciplinary reasons. Caglianone suffered a cut on his left hand during Thursday’s loss to the Astros in Houston, when he punched a dugout wall after striking out.
“It was a very selfish and immature move on my part,” Caglianone said prior to going 2-for-3 with two runs scored, including an RBI single in Saturday's 6-5 loss. “These guys [in the clubhouse] hold me to a higher standard. I hold myself to a higher standard. It’s definitely a learning experience, something that I want to grow from.”
Caglianone is having a fine first full season in the Majors, slashing .279/.332/.485 with 23 home runs and 71 RBIs in 137 games. He ranks second on the team in homers and RBIs behind rookie catcher Carter Jensen, who hit a franchise rookie-record-breaking 25th homer on Saturday for his 76th RBI.
Caglianone had gone 0-for-10 with one hit in 15 at-bats over his previous seven games, while striking out eight times. The 23-year-old admits he let the frustration get the better of him.
“It just kind of boiled over in Houston,” Caglianone said. "I cut my hand, and fortunately it was nothing too serious. But I was very selfish and immature, and I put the team in a bad spot. That’s something I don’t want to do again.”