Junior Caminero

Junior Alberto Caminero (born July 5, 2003) is a Dominican professional baseball infielder for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.

Junior Caminero
Caminero with Leones del Escogido in 2023
Tampa Bay Rays – No. 13
Infielder
Born: (2003-07-05) July 5, 2003 (age 21) Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 23, 2023, for the Tampa Bay Rays
MLB statistics (through 2024 season)
Batting average	.246
Home runs	7
Runs batted in	25
Teams
Tampa Bay Rays (2023–present)

Career

Cleveland Indians

Caminero signed with the Cleveland Indians as an international free agent on July 2, 2019.^[1] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.^[2] Caminero made his professional debut in 2021 with the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League Indians and batted .295 with nine home runs and 33 runs batted in (RBIs).^[3]

Tampa Bay Rays

Cleveland traded Caminero to the Tampa Bay Rays for pitcher Tobias Myers on November 19, 2021.^[4] He began the 2022 season with the Florida Complex League Rays.^[5] Caminero was later promoted to the Charleston RiverDogs of the Single-A Carolina League and batted .314 with 11 home runs and 51 RBIs in 62 games between the two teams.^[6] After the season, he played for the Perth Heat of the Australian Baseball League. In 39 games Junior had an avg of .303 with 14 HRs and was an instant fan favourite. ^[7]

Caminero was assigned to the High-A Bowling Green Hot Rods at the start of the 2023 season.^[8] He was promoted to the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits after slashing .356/.409/.685 with 11 home runs, 32 RBI, and 30 runs scored in 36 games played with the Hot Rods.^[9] Caminero was selected to play in the 2023 All-Star Futures Game.^[10] In 81 games for Montgomery, he hit .309/.373/.548 with 20 home runs and 62 RBI. On September 22, 2023, Caminero was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.^[11] He made his MLB debut on September 23.^[12] Caminero won the 2023 Southern League Most Valuable Player Award and Top MLB Prospect Award for his performance with Montgomery.^[13]

Caminero was optioned to the Triple–A Durham Bulls to begin the 2024 season.^[14] He suffered a quad injury three games into Durham's season and spent the next two weeks on the injured list.^[15] He suffered a more serious quad injury on May 28, 2024.^[16]

References

1. Stotsky, Tyler (July 2, 2019). "SS Prastano Leads Cleveland's International Signings". 247Sports.com. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
2. "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
3. Hoynes, Paul (November 20, 2021). "Makeover madness: What sweeping roster changes mean for Cleveland Guardians". Cleveland.com. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
4. "Guardians' Tobias Myers: Dealt to Cleveland". CBS Sports. RotoWire. November 19, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
5. "Rays' Junior Caminero: Showing skills in rookie ball". CBS Sports. RotoWire. August 2, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
6. "Rays' Junior Caminero Makes Strong First Impression". Baseball America. November 8, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
7. "Perth Heat's Tampa Bay Rays import Junior Caminero determined to end time in Australia with Claxton Shield win". The West Australian. February 1, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
8. "Hot Rods' Caminero named SAL Player of Month". The Daily News. May 4, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
9. "Rays' Junior Caminero: Promoted to Double-A". CBS Sports. RotoWire. May 28, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
10. "Yandy Diaz, Randy Arozarena positioned well in early voting for All-Star start". Tampa Bay Times. June 27, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
11. "Junior Caminero debut: Rays promote top infield prospect to majors amid battle for AL East title". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
12. "Rays' Junior Caminero: Debuting as designated hitter". CBSSports.com. September 23, 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
13. Trezza, Joe. "The 2023 Double-A All-Stars and Award Winners". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
14. "Rays' Junior Caminero: Sent down to minor-league camp". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
15. "Rays top prospect Junior Caminero makes quick return from quad injury". Tampa Bay Times. April 14, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
16. "Rays top prospect Junior Caminero sidelined with quad strain". May 29, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.

External links

• Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)