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Player Outlook
The Rays are known for slow-playing prospects, but not many hitters reach Double-A at 19 and proceed to hit 20 homers with a .309 average and a 17.1 K% over 81 games, but that's exactly what Junior Caminero did. Tampa Bay rewarded the young slugger's exploits, jumping him over Triple-A for his big-league debut shortly after his 20th birthday and late enough in the season for him to enter this year rookie-eligible and therefore Prospect Promotion Incentive draft pick eligible. Caminero only had 26 batted-ball events but still managed a 112-mph max exit velocity, although his minor-league hard-hit data was already superlative, so that didn't shed new light. He hits missiles to all fields and can handle high-end velocity and spin. There's nothing to quibble with offensively, especially when projecting a couple years into the future, aside from the fact he probably won't contribute on the bases. Caminero enters the year eligible at third base (three games), but he also saw brief time at shortstop (two games) and second base (one game). It's always pretty crowded in Tampa Bay, but considering Taylor Walls, Osleivis Basabe and Jonathan Aranda all saw plenty of playing time down the stretch, there should be room for Caminero to carve out an everyday role.

Fantasy Stats

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Fantasy Points per Game
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Runs
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Home Runs
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Runs Batted In
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Base on Balls (Walk)
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Stolen Bases
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Batting Average
2024 .000
2023 213 4 1 7 2 .235

Fantasy News

  • Rays' Junior Caminero: Sent down to minor-league camp

    The Rays optioned Caminero to minor-league camp Monday. The top prospect got a cup of coffee with Tampa Bay last season, but the feeling has been for a while that Caminero was destined for Triple-A Durham to begin 2024. The 20-year-old will be making his first stop at Durham, as he skipped over that level when he was promoted in 2023. Caminero still has a good shot to spend ample time in the majors in 2024, particularly if he can make some strides with his defense.
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  • Rays' Junior Caminero: Unlikely to make Opening Day roster

    Caminero is unlikely to crack the Rays' Opening Day roster, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Caminero made his major-league debut in late September of last year, skipping over the Triple-A level. That promotion was made in part due to need, though, and the fact that he's just 20 and has only 81 games of Double-A experience and zero Triple-A experience under his belt points to more seasoning required. Caminero forcing his way onto the roster with a dominant spring training can't be ruled out, but fantasy managers should expect him to spend some time back in the minors first.
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  • Rays' Junior Caminero: Not in Game 1 lineup

    Caminero is not in the lineup for Tuesday's Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Rangers. Caminero did make the Rays' roster, but he will not be in the lineup for the series opener after starting the final seven regular-season games. Tampa Bay is going with Taylor Walls at shortstop and Curtis Mead at second base Tuesday.
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  • Rays' Junior Caminero: Hits first major-league home run

    Caminero went 2-for-6 with a solo homer, two RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's 12-8 win over the Blue Jays. Caminero got an RBI single in the second and then launched an opposite field home run off Tim Mayza in the fifth for his first big-league blast. The 20-year-old phenom slashed .235/.278/.353 with seven RBI, four runs and a 2:8 BB:K in 36 plate appearances after he was called up. He should be in the mix to make the postseason roster for the Rays.
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  • Rays' Junior Caminero: Possible waiver wire pickups

    The Rays' promotion of 20-year-old phenom Junior Caminero this weekend seemed like it would be too little, too late for Fantasy Baseball purposes -- and it may still be. But there have been new developments on the playing-time front during that short time. Second baseman Brandon Lowe has a fractured knee cap, and third baseman Isaac Paredes has shifted over to take his spot. Third base is Caminero's primary position, and now it's unaccounted for. Of course, both of his starts so far have come at DH, but the point is that there's no longer such a lineup crunch. It doesn't change the fact that the Rays have only five games this week, but Caminero immediately turned heads with a 112 mph single for his first major-league hit Saturday. Not every player is capable of hitting the ball that hard. If you're in need of a replacement for an injured Nolan Arenado, Caminero makes for a fun one.
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  • Rays' Junior Caminero: Promotion made official

    The Rays selected Caminero's contract from Double-A Montgomery on Friday, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports. One of the top prospects in all of baseball, Caminero will skip the Triple-A level and report to the big leagues after turning 20 in July. He earned the promotion by slashing .324/.384/.591 with 31 home runs and 94 RBI between High-A Bowling Green and Montgomery, with 20 of those homers coming at the Double-A level. While primarily a third baseman, Caminero has experience at all four infield positions and could potentially take over at shortstop for the Rays.
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  • Rays' Junior Caminero: Making jump to majors

    Caminero was promoted to the majors from Double-A Montgomery on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. Caminero is widely regarded as not only the Rays' best prospect, but also one of the best across the league. He'll make the jump directly from Montgomery after maintaining a .309/.373/.548 line at the level across 351 plate appearances -- good for a 140 wRC+. The 20-year-old has played primarily at third base this season, but he has also made 29 appearances at shortstop. If he gets regular playing time in the majors, it's likely to come at the latter position at the expense of Osleivis Basabe or Taylor Walls.
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  • Rays' Junior Caminero: Promoted to Double-A

    Caminero was promoted to Double-A Montgomery on Sunday, Ben Badler of Baseball America reports. Caminero is one of the Rays' top prospects and impressed at High-A Bowling Green to begin 2023, slashing .356/.409/.685 with 11 home runs, 32 RBI, 30 runs and two stolen bases over 36 games. The 19-year-old has performed well at every level of the minors so far, and with this promotion he becomes the second-youngest player at Double-A behind Brewers prospect Jackson Chourio.
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  • Rays' Junior Caminero: Surpassing high expectations

    Caminero is hitting .500 with four home runs, one steal, six strikeouts and four walks through 39 plate appearances for High-A Bowling Green. His .542 BABIP will obviously come way down, but his groundball rate is under 40 percent for the first time in his career and he has not hit an infield flyball yet. Additionally, Caminero has an elite 46.7 percent hard-hit rate, so there's no denying his excellent quality of contact through eight games. The 19-year-old third baseman is perhaps the buzziest young prospect in the minors and seems to be on a clear path toward top-10 prospect status by year's end.
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