Jac Caglianone has put himself on the map in a big way during the 2023 NCAA baseball season. The two-way Florida star has been one of the best batters in the sport while flashing solid form on the mound during his return from Tommy John surgery.
Caglianone's success has helped Florida to reach the 2023 College World Series finals. Now, he will look to help deliver the Gators their first championship since 2017.
Certainly, Caglianone's story is a cool one and is even, at points, inspiring. Fans will find it easy to root for the Florida slugger as he suits up for his hometown team.
MORE: Everything to know about Jac Caglianone, Florida's two-way star
Here's what you need to know about Caglione's Florida roots as the Gators get ready to face LSU in the CWS championship series.
Where is Jac Caglianone from?
Jac Caglianone is a native of Florida and more specifically, the Tampa Bay area. He grew up there and attended high school there before staying in Florida to continue his collegiate career.
About 130 miles separate Tampa from Gainesville, home of the Gators. Google Maps estimates that it takes about two hours to travel between the two cities.
Where did Jac Caglianone go to high school?
Caglianone went to high school at Plant High School, a public school in Tampa. The school opened in 1927 and has become a hotbed for producing professional-level athletes.
Notably, Mets slugger Pete Alonso attended Plant. So too did Wade Boggs, Mychal Givens, and Kyle Tucker, among other high-level athletes.
Caglianone established himself as one of the best to play at the school. He became Perfect Game's 33rd-ranked prospect in the country and the fourth-best in the state of Florida. He played both pitcher and first base, flashing the two-way potential that he has showcased often during his time with the Gators.
During his final season at Plant, Caglianone batted .371 with three home runs. He also posted a 2.44 ERA with two saves and 65 strikeouts over 37 1/3 innings pitched. He performed well enough to earn an invitation to a postseason all-star game but unfortunately hurt his elbow while playing in it.
Caglianone required Tommy John surgery as a result of that injury, but he still drew plenty of interest as a college baseball prospect. That allowed him to latch on with Florida to continue his career playing for his home-state Gators.
MORE: Where Jac Caglianone ranks among NCAA's single-season home run leaders
Jac Caglianone Florida Gators stats
Caglianone has been able to flourish as a two-way star for the Gators. He originally had planned to redshirt during his first season with the team in 2022, but he instead decided to serve as a designated hitter as he recovered from Tommy John surgery.
This season, Caglianone has performed both as a pitcher and as a first baseman for the Gators. He has been successful in both areas, especially as his power has blossomed. He enters the CWS championship series tied for the NCAA lead in home runs with 31.
Below is a look at Caglianone's stats in each of his three seasons with his home-state team.
Batting
| Year | Games | BA | OBP | SLG | HR | RBI |
| 2022 | 28 | .289 | .339 | .548 | 7 | 27 |
| 2023 | 68 | .325 | .391 | .735 | 31 | 84 |
Pitching
| Year | Record | Innings | ERA | K | BB |
| 2023 | 7-3 | 73 1/3 | 3.68 | 85 | 52 |