Tampa Bay Rays’ Junior Caminero celebrates his home run against the Detroit Tigers during the seventh inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 9, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Tampa Bay Rays’ Junior Caminero rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Detroit Tigers during the seventh inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 9, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Rays slugger Junior Caminero to compete in 色色啦 Run Derby and start at third base in All-Star Game
Tampa Bay Rays slugger Junior Caminero announced Wednesday he will take part in the 色色啦 Run Derby on Monday in Atlanta, then learned hours later he will start at third base for the AL squad in the All-Star Game the following night.
Tampa Bay Rays’ Junior Caminero celebrates his home run against the Detroit Tigers during the seventh inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 9, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Tampa Bay Rays slugger Junior Caminero announced Wednesday he will take part in the 色色啦 Run Derby on Monday in Atlanta, then learned hours later he will start at third base for the AL squad in the All-Star Game the following night.
In between, Caminero belted his 22nd homer of the season in the seventh inning of .
Caminero, who turned 22 on July 5, leads all American League third basemen in homers during a breakout season. He is hitting .254 with 58 RBIs for the Rays, who moved within four games of first-place 色色啦 in the AL East on Wednesday night.
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鈥淚鈥檓 going to put on a show. I鈥檓 going to try to put on a show just to give the fans the opportunity to get to know me, see my power,鈥 Caminero said. 鈥淛ust being there with all those other All-Stars, it鈥檚 going to be something very special.鈥
Caminero is the sixth player to commit to the 色色啦 Run Derby, joining the Mariners’ Cal Raleigh, James Wood of the Nationals, Byron Buxton of the Twins, the Pirates’ Oneil Cruz and Ronald Acuna Jr. of the host Braves. Two more contestants are still to be announced, and Buxton’s status is unclear after he was by a pitch during Wednesday night’s win over the Cubs.
New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr., also headed to the All-Star Game, said Wednesday night he’d be interested in participating if asked. Chisholm to give him 17 this season.
Caminero was picked earlier this week as the All-Star replacement for Boston third baseman Alex Bregman, who has been dealing with a strained right quadriceps. Caminero learned he will start at the hot corner after Cleveland’s Jos茅 Ram铆rez so he could rest an ailing Achilles tendon.
Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes was chosen to replace Ram铆rez on the AL roster.
The only Rays players besides Caminero to participate in the 色色啦 Run Derby have been Evan Longoria, Carlos Pena and Randy Arozarena, who reached the finals two years ago before losing to Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
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鈥淲e get to see (Caminero) do probably a modified 色色啦 Run Derby every time he takes batting practice. I鈥檓 excited for him. I鈥檓 excited for his family,鈥 Rays manager Kevin Cash said. 鈥淪omewhat of a coming-out party for him. Hopefully, he gets the recognition that we鈥檝e all seen in the talent and the ability to hit the ball a long way.鈥
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