Rays, Junior Caminero briefly discuss future plans

Scouts and fans alike had a feeling that Junior Caminero would break out in his first full season, but we don't think any expected an MVP-type performance and a Home Run Derby finals appearance against Cal Raleigh and his record-breaking campaign. At the age of 22, the Dominican superstar-in-the-making belted 45 home runs and drove in 110 runs. With many youthful years ahead of him, Caminero is an easy candidate to lock down in a Rays' jersey for the foreseeable future.

Junior Caminero was signed in the international draft by the Cleveland Guardians. His first few professional seasons in the Guardians system were very promising as the 6'1 infielder hit 20 home runs and produced a .300+ AVG. Regardless, the Guardians decided to trade their prized prospect for pitching capital in the form of Tobias Myers. The 26-year-old hurler is a successful MLB player now, but he never pitched an inning for the Guardians. Therefore, this was a total loss for the Cleveland front office.

Caminero rushed through the Rays farm system, receiving a promotion after each season. In 2023, the Rays decided to take a risk and call up their top prospect. He was only 19 years old at the time, but he was able to prove that the future is bright in his 7-game stint. The slugging third baseman was also limited to less than 10 games in 2024 due to a nagging injury. However, that winter would change the trajectory of his career forever.

Naturally, the Dominican-born joined the Dominican Winter League as a member of the Leones del Escogido. The league was a downgrade in terms of pitching, but the Rays' infield prospect was on another level throughout this tournament. He hit an astounding .424 in 10 contests and cranked a massive walk-off home run off the batter's eye. The celebration around the bases was unreal and certainly made Rays fans stoked about the upcoming season.

And as we mentioned earlier, the 2025 season was nothing short of spectacular, so what's next for the rising phenom? Well, he's recently mentioned his commitment to the Rays and would be interested in signing a long-term contract with the club. This should be an easy decision for Tampa Bay, but as we've learned many times, the business side of this sports is not always black and white. Due to the recent change in ownership and the necessary funds going towards a new stadium, the Rays haven't gotten the chance to put together an extension for their beloved corner infielder. However, we're confident that the two sides will make something work in the near future.