Rays slugger Junior Caminero set for October stage
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Juan Beltran, Contributor
- October 3, 2026
MVP candidate Junior Caminero ready to make postseason debut
Tampa Bay Rays All-Star Junior Caminero introduced himself to the baseball world with an impressive runner-up finish at the 2025 Home Run Derby in Atlanta during his first All-Star berth. The young slugger from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, finished ninth in the American League MVP race last year to cap his breakthrough season.
Even the most casual fan had to know who Caminero was after the 2025 season. Then he truly ascended into unquestioned greatness this season, ranking alongside Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez among the top AL MVP frontrunners.
Junior Caminero will make his postseason debut against the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series today at Tropicana Field.
“I feel great,” he says. “The moment’s here. We’ve been talking about this all year long. Now everybody on the team is ready and I’m here to impact the team in whatever way I can.”
MVP candidate
Caminero finished the regular season with 42 home runs, 101 RBIs and career bests in walks (79), batting average (.279) and on-base percentage (.360).
He’s the most dangerous hitter on the team with the best record in the AL this year.
“He hit a ball about 400 feet yesterday in a scrimmage,’” Rays manager Kevin Cash said of Caminero. “Junior is a special player, a special teammate. He’s been incredible and would expect that just as he’s done every single stop throughout his career, whether it’s playing winter ball or coming up, he’s going to be very excited, motivated, and we’ll rise to the occasion.”
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At only 23 years old, Caminero already has 94 career home runs and 236 RBIs over parts of four seasons. He hit a career-high 45 home runs last year in his first full season in the majors.
Junior Caminero grew up idolizing Manny Machado and Jose Ramirez. Early in the 2025 season, he readily admitted that he dreamed of being picked to represent the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.
Already among the greats
He wondered if there would be a place for him at third base, considering the deep Dominican Republic talent pool. By the end of the 2025 season, there was no doubt the DR would find a spot for Caminero.
Now there’s no doubt that Caminero is among the Top 3 players in the majors. If you didn’t know about Caminero before this year or even before this postseason, you will surely learn about him soon.
Caminero is set for October baseball. Winter ball in the Dominican, the 2025 Home Run Derby, the 2025 breakout season, the 2026 WBC and the MVP-caliber season this year have all helped prepare Caminero for the biggest stage.
He’s ready to finally taste October baseball.
“Right now, my focus is to help this team, the Tampa Bay Rays,” he says. “That’s the team I’m a part of. That’s the team that chose me to be in this position. I feel really good going into it having some experience at high-level stakes games. They’re a little different. At the end of the day, we’re playing baseball and I’m confident in my talents and to see what I can do here.”
Juan Beltran
Contributor
Juan Beltran, who immigrated to the United States from El Salvador at 5 years old, is an experienced broadcast journalist
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