Few prospects achieved extra in 2023 than Junior Caminero, who hopped from Double-A to the Majors down the stretch for the playoff-bound Rays and grew to become the youngest energetic participant within the Majors on the time. However Caminero isn’t resting on these laurels this winter.
Removed from it. The Santo Domingo native is enjoying winter ball in his dwelling nation, and excelling within the Dominican Winter League.
The 20-year-old was the offensive star once more Friday evening, homering and doubling as a part of a four-hit evening in Leones Del Escogido’s 10-6 win over Gigantes. Caminero drove in a pair, scored two runs and reached base 5 instances as his bat remained purple scorching.
By means of 21 video games with Leones, Caminero is hitting a strong .333/.362/.575 with 29 hits, 5 dwelling runs, and 15 RBIs. His two-run homer Friday was his fourth in his previous seven video games.
That’s exactly the form of capability that makes Caminero one of many sport’s most enjoyable prospects, at present ranked No. 6 total by MLB Pipeline. Tampa Bay’s prime prospect solely obtained seven video games to flash it for the Rays down the stretch, however earlier than that loved probably the most productive seasons within the Minors, raking to the tune of a .324/.384/.591 line and 31 homers throughout Excessive-A and Double-A.
Though Caminero has by no means performed in Triple-A, the Rays thought-about him proficient sufficient to contribute down the stretch. So whether or not he makes the staff out of Spring Coaching or spends a couple of weeks at Triple-A to start the yr, Caminero ought to get one other probability to contribute in Tampa Bay early in 2024, and might be within the 2024 Rookie of the Yr dialog by season’s finish.