Royal feud? White Sox starter Anthony Kay miffed with ‘chirping’ division rivals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Have the White Sox got some beef on the barbecue in Kansas City?

Starter Anthony Kay sure thinks so.

“Those guys like to chirp a little bit, it seems like,” Kay said after staring down Royals outfielder Jac Caglianone, who initiated some cold, hard eye contact on the way to first base after taking a 94 mph pitch high and inside during the Sox’ 2-0 win Thursday.

“I don’t think we’re going to take that anymore,” Kay declared after touching 98 mph and looking sharp in his first MLB win since 2021. “We’re going to go right at them.”

Those might sound like fighting words that could heat up their American League Central rivalry — but Caglianone downplayed the potential for any divisional dustup.

“No malice or ill intent behind it,” Caglianone said in the home clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium the day after his mean-mugging.

The official scorer ruled the 23-year-old was plunked by Kay’s sinker, “but I didn't get hit.” He would’ve gotten a free pass either way on the 3-1 pitch well out of the zone.

“We weren’t swinging it well… I wasn't sitting there thinking that he was doing it on purpose,” Caglianone said of Kay, who hit Royals catcher Salvador Perez with an 86 mph sweeper in the first inning. “There was a guy on first. I was just moreso trying to be like a little spark plug, see if I could get the guys fired up.”

Caglianone, a World Baseball Classic teammate of the Sox’ Kyle Teel and Sam Antonacci for Italy, shrugged off Kay’s pointed reaction.

“I saw what he said last night, and I was just like, it's not that deep,” said Caglianone, who struck out in his first two at-bats against the lefty. “Frustrated? I mean, yeah, obviously, he got me twice. So you know, not happy with myself.”

The Royals’ 2024 first-round draft pick said there’s “nothing out of the baseball norm” in their rivalry, which has been one-sided since before Caglianone’s debut last season. Entering Friday’s game, KC had feasted on the Sox to a 24-5 record since September 2023.

And Caglianone’s not looking for any feud in the future.

“They’ve got a lot of firepower in that bullpen. Wouldn’t want to take on one the ribs from Grant Taylor,” he laughed.

Manager Will Venable agreed there was no new bad blood entering his second year on the job.

“It looked like some of the guys had a problem with Caglianone getting hit yesterday, which I can assure you was not intentional,” said Venable, who still liked seeing some fire from his pitcher.

“He takes pride in being on this team. He’s going to have all the guys’ backs,” Venable said. “I love that response.”

Pope hats for all

Sox fans hoping to get their hands on a South Side-branded pope hat had their prayers answered Friday as the team announced they’re expanding the papal promo for all ticketholders to the Aug. 11 home game versus the Reds due to “overwhelming” demand.

“The fans have spoken, and unlike some of our more limited quantity promotions, the White Sox Pope Hat is one we believe all fans should have the opportunity to take home,” the Sox’ chief marketing officer, Brooks Boyer, said in a statement.

The Sox’ most famous fan, Dolton native Pope Leo XIV, probably won’t be in attendance, but he’s got an open invitation to Rate Field.

Provided