Former University of Florida standout and current Kansas City Royals slugger Jac Caglianone is set to compete in the 2026 Home Run Derby this Monday, July 13. Caglianone enters the field as one of eight participants looking to claim the title in a high-stakes event that has shifted its broadcasting home to Netflix.
According to reporting from Sports Illustrated, Caglianone enters the competition with 15 home runs and a .260 batting average this season. While he holds the fewest home runs among the field, analysts point to his elite power metrics as his primary advantage. Caglianone currently ranks in the 98th percentile with a 56% hard-hit rate and maintains an average exit velocity of 93 mph, with recorded peaks reaching 115 mph.
This year’s competition features a significant format change. Organizers have eliminated the traditional clock, replacing it with a set number of swings: 20 in the first round and 15 in subsequent rounds. The final swing of each round acts as a de facto out, though players can continue batting if they hit a home run on that final attempt. Tie-breakers in the opening round will be decided by home run distance, followed by a three-swing swing-off in later rounds.
The event begins at 8 p.m. EDT, with pre-show coverage starting at 7 p.m. EDT on Netflix. Caglianone joins a field that includes Junior Caminero (Tampa Bay Rays), Jordan Walker (St. Louis Cardinals), Ben Rice (New York Yankees), Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper (Philadelphia Phillies), Munetaka Murakami (Chicago White Sox), and Willson Contreras (Boston Red Sox).