HOUSTON — Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero blasted his 11th home run in 11 games Saturday at Daikin Park, a 437-foot shot off Astros ace Hunter Brown, hours after learning he had been named a starter for the 2026 All-Star Game.
The 22-year-old crushed a 3-2 slider at 107.5 mph that landed near the train tracks in left field for his 26th homer of the season. The streak, dating to June 23, makes Caminero the first player to hit 11 or more homers in an 11-game span since Kyle Schwarber did it in 2021.
“It’s kind of like must-see TV with his at-bats right now,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “He’s coming up and handling a lot of pitches and is ready to go. Whether it’s a fastball or an offspeed pitch, he’s got an answer.”
Caminero entered Saturday as the second-youngest player in the Modern Era — at 22 years, 363 days — to homer in 10 consecutive games, trailing only the Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger, who accomplished the feat in 2017 at 21 years, 342 days. The historic company on the 11-in-11 list includes Barry Bonds (2001), Sammy Sosa (1998), Mark McGwire (1998) and Harmon Killebrew (1962).
“It feels really good at home plate right now,” Caminero said. “Just continue like that.”
Teammate Nick Fortes marveled at the streak after Caminero homered in Friday’s 3-1 win over Houston. “He’s killing it right now,” Fortes said. “He’s grinding through it. Every pitch that he gets to hit, it seems like he’s not missing it. It’s pretty fun to watch. It’s just a nightly routine at this point.”
Cash had practically dared the young slugger to extend the run. Asked Friday if he could say anything else about Caminero’s barrage, Cash replied: “Yeah, he could go 11 in 11 games.” Caminero answered the call less than 24 hours later.
With 26 homers, Caminero is five shy of tying the Rays’ franchise record of 31 home runs before the All-Star break, set by Jose Canseco in 1999. “Pumped for Junior; he’s on an incredible run right now,” Cash said. The Rays have eight games remaining before the break for Caminero to chase the mark.