The Tampa Bay Rays are calling up infield prospect Junior Caminero as the playoffs loom closer. Caminero is the second-best prospect in baseball, one spot behind Jackson Holiday, according to MLB.com. The 21-year-old, who hails from the Dominican Republic, briefly made his MLB debut last season in September for the Rays.
Caminero played in seven games in late September last year, batting .235 with a home run. The Rays also kept him on their postseason roster, where he went 0-for-2 in two pinch-hit appearances in the Wild Card Series.
The third base prospect spent more time in Triple-A this season than expected due to a quad strain that has limited him to 53 games. Caminero batted .277 with 13 homers in those 53 games. According to Statcats, Caminero ranked second among Triple-A hitters in average exit velocity at 93.3 mph, only behind Nationals outfielder James Wood.
Caminero began his professional career in the Dominican Summer League in 2021 with the Guardians affiliate after being signed as an international free agent by Cleveland. In 43 games, he slashed .295/.380/.534 with nine home runs. He was traded to the Rays in 2021 for RHP Tobias Myers. Caminero also played one season in the Australian Baseball League, where he batted .303 with 14 homers.
The Rays traded third baseman Issac Paredes to the Cubs at the trade deadline to free up space for the eventual move to call Caminero up. The Tampa Bay Times reported the move will happen on Tuesday, yet the team has not confirmed the roster move. Tampa will have to make a corresponding move to clear a spot for Caminero on their active roster.
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Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays Infielder Junior Caminero (1) at bat during the MLB regular season game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays on August 12, 2023, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
