Jac Caglianone breaks Florida’s all-time HR mark with majestic moonshot in Omaha

Jac Caglianone has cemented his spot as Florida’s all-time home run leader, delivering the record-setting blast in an elimination game at the College World Series.

Facing elimination and the possibility of playing 2 must-win games on Wednesday, the Gators altered the lineup and moved Caglianone into the lead-off spot against Kentucky. The move by Kevin O’Sullivan was an attempt to get Caglianone more opportunities to force teams to pitch to the slugger, and it paid off.

Caglianone opened the game with a sharp leadoff single into right field and advanced to 2nd on an error. He would score the first of 7 1st-inning runs for the Gators as they raced out to a 7-1 lead.

Kentucky would then issue 3 straight walks to Caglianone before he came up to the plate with 2 outs and the bases clear in the bottom of the 6th. The Wildcats would pitch to him, and Caglianone made that decision hurt.

His record-setting blast was tracked at 109.8 mph off the bat and 375 feet. It gives Caglianone 75 career home runs, eclipsing the previous record of 74 hit by Matt LaPorta.

75TH CAREER HOME RUN #MCWS x ESPN pic.twitter.com/VLMITzPDwr

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 19, 2024

The home run also adds to Caglianone’s single-season home run record, giving him 35 on the year.

Florida’s star slugger now occupies the 3rd-place slot on the SEC’s all-time home runs list. Eddy Furniss holds the record with 80 while Brad Cresse had 78 in his career. (LSU star Tommy White also has 75 career home runs, but 27 belong to his time in the ACC while at NC State.)

Paul Harvey

Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.