MIAMI — The next generation of Major League Baseball stars took center stage early in the 2026 World Baseball Classic semifinal between the United States and the Dominican Republic.
Three of the game’s youngest impact hitters — Junior Caminero, Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony — delivered solo home runs in the opening innings at loanDepot Park.
The fireworks began when Paul Skenes’ first mistake of the night came on a hanging breaking ball — and Junior Caminero did not miss it.
Dominican Republic’s Junior Caminero celebrates his home run during the second inning of a World Baseball Classic semifinal game against the United States, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
After the U.S. ace looked dominant through the first five Dominican batters — punctuated by a sharp three-pitch strikeout of Manny Machado — Caminero punished an 84.4 mph sweeper with two outs in the bottom of the second inning.
The Dominican slugger launched the pitch 401 feet into the left-center field seats, giving the Dominican Republic a 1–0 lead and igniting a crowd that quickly began to sound more like Santo Domingo than Miami.
The blast also made tournament history.
It was the Dominican Republic’s 15th home run of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, breaking the all-time record for most team home runs in a single WBC tournament.
Dominican manager Albert Pujols praised Caminero during an in-game interview with FOX’s Tom Verducci.
“He’s living for this. I mean, he told me — I can see it in his face today. He feels good about it. He’s a young kid, 22 years old, to play on a big stage like this,” Pujols said. “And what’s good about it? He’s just going to get better. That’s what’s good for him — and dangerous for the league.”
While Caminero provided the offense, Luis Severino controlled the game on the mound during the early innings.
The Dominican right-hander struck out six batters through the first three innings, mixing sweepers and high-velocity fastballs while keeping the powerful American lineup off balance.
Severino navigated early traffic in the first inning after Aaron Judge lined a single to left and Kyle Schwarber was hit by a pitch, escaping when Gunnar Henderson grounded out to second baseman Ketel Marte.
Dominican Republic pitcher Luis Severino (40) reacts during the fourth inning of a World Baseball Classic semifinal game against the United States, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Team USA threatened again in the third inning when two softly hit singles placed runners at second and third with one out, bringing Team USA captain Aaron Judge to the plate.
With first base open, Albert Pujols elected to pitch to Judge, creating one of the biggest early moments of the game.
Severino stayed disciplined, forcing Judge into a full count before finishing the at-bat with an 87.1 mph sweeper that Judge swung through for strike three.
Moments later, Severino froze Kyle Schwarber with another breaking ball to strand the runners and preserve the Dominican Republic’s lead.
The Dominican Republic threatened again in the bottom of the third inning.
After Austin Wells struck out swinging, Geraldo Perdomo reached base after being hit by a pitch.
DON'T RUN ON THE CAPTAIN. ?
AARON JUDGE THROWS OUT FERNANDO TATIS JR. AT THIRD!
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— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) March 16, 2026
Fernando Tatis Jr. then grounded into a force play before Ketel Marte lined a single to right field.
Tatis attempted to advance to third, but Aaron Judge fired a perfect throw from right field to third baseman Gunnar Henderson, cutting down the runner to end the inning and keep the score at 1–0.
The American lineup answered quickly in the top of the fourth inning.
Gunnar Henderson tied the game when he drove a Severino pitch 400 feet to right-center field, a 105.8 mph blast that evened the score at 1–1.
Severino recorded one more out when Will Smith lined sharply to left field, but Dominican manager Albert Pujols turned to the bullpen moments later, bringing in left-hander Gregory Soto.
The momentum shift continued immediately.
Roman Anthony, one of baseball’s top young prospects, launched a towering 421-foot home run to center field, giving the United States its first lead of the night at 2–1.
United States’ Roman Anthony hits a home run during the fourth inning of a World Baseball Classic semifinal game against the Dominican Republic, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
The back-to-back swings from Henderson and Anthony flipped the game in minutes and highlighted the wave of young MLB talent shaping the tournament.
The Dominican Republic nearly answered in the bottom of the inning.
Juan Soto lined out to right field before Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled to left and Manny Machado followed with a single.
Junior Caminero then reached on a force play that moved Guerrero Jr. to third, and Julio Rodríguez was hit by a pitch, loading the bases.
With Caminero standing at second and the tying run ninety feet away, Austin Wells lifted a fly ball to left field, where Roman Anthony made the catch to end the inning.
The Dominican rally ended there, leaving the United States ahead 2–1 as the game moved into the middle innings.
The Dominican lineup threatened again in the fifth inning and finally pushed Paul Skenes out of the game.
After Geraldo Perdomo flew out to left field, Fernando Tatis Jr. singled on a ground ball to third baseman Gunnar Henderson. Ketel Marte followed with a sharp line drive single to center field, advancing Tatis to second and bringing the tying run into scoring position.
Tatis likely had an opportunity to push for third base, but after being thrown out earlier by Aaron Judge’s perfect throw from right field, the Dominican star held up at second.
The decision avoided another risky out and kept the rally alive — one that ultimately forced Team USA to go to the bullpen.
Skenes, who needed only 36 pitches to navigate the first three innings, began to show signs of strain as the Dominican lineup adjusted. With two runners on and one out in the inning, Team USA manager Mark DeRosa turned to reliever Tyler Rogers, ending Skenes’ outing.
The American ace finished with 4.1 innings pitched, six strikeouts, one run allowed and three hits, with the lone damage coming on Caminero’s blast. The fifteenth home run for the Dominican Republic in the WBC so far.
Rogers immediately erased the threat.
Facing Juan Soto, the submarine-style right-hander induced a ground ball that shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. started into a smooth double play with second baseman Brice Turang, ending the inning and preserving the lead.
Through five innings, Team USA held a 2–1 advantage in a semifinal matchup that had already delivered exactly what fans hoped for: two baseball superpowers trading punches while the sport’s next generation of stars took center stage.
Aaron Judge reacts to getting robbed by J-Rod pic.twitter.com/JMrKp9XmBD
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 16, 2026
Anthony’s home run in the fourth inning served as another reminder of that rising wave. The 21-year-old outfielder — whose Italian heritage once made him an intriguing potential bat for Team Italy’s roster construction — instead continues to emerge as a central force in the Team USA lineup.
For now, his swing remains one of the biggest reasons the United States leads midway through the semifinal at loanDepot Park.
Photo: United States’ Gunnar Henderson gestures to his teammates after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a World Baseball Classic semifinal game against the Dominican Republic, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
