MLB: Royals' Jac Caglianone optimistic ankle injury isn't serious

Kansas City's Jac Caglianone downplayed a sore right ankle that caused him to leave the Royals' 9-7 win over the visiting Athletics on Wednesday.

Caglianone went 1-for-1 and was hit by a pitch before John Rave pinch-hit for him in the fifth inning.

After the game, Caglianone said of the ankle ailment, according to MLB.com, "Just kind of been nagging for a little bit. Felt it a little when I ran today, a little bit more than the last couple of days. So just trying to be cautious with it. ...

"Not too worried about it, to be honest. Should be back in here pretty soon."

Royals manager Matt Quatraro added, "We're just trying to be cautious, to be honest, because we don't want something bigger to come up."

In his first full major league season, Caglianone is batting .279 with a .332 on-base percentage, a .495 slugging percentage, 22 home runs and 60 RBIs in 119 games.

He has been on a three-week hot streak. Over his past 20 games, Caglianone is 32-for-77 (.416) with six home runs and 23 RBIs.

The 23-year-old Tampa native has split his time between right field and first base this year.

-Field Level Media/Reuters