ST. PETERSBURG — Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero became the sixth-youngest player in Major League history to record consecutive 30-homer seasons, launching a 453-foot blast off the D-ring catwalk at Tropicana Field in a 6-1 loss to the White Sox.
Caminero, who turned 23 on July 5, crushed a full-count sinker from White Sox starter Erick Fedde at 109.5 mph for his 30th home run of the season. At 23 years and 26 days old, he trails only Miguel Cabrera (22 years, 143 days), Albert Pujols (22 years, 223 days), Jimmie Foxx (22 years, 287 days), Eddie Mathews (22 years, 299 days) and Giancarlo Stanton (22 years, 301 days) on the all-time list for youngest players with back-to-back 30-homer campaigns, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
“Thank you to God for another good year. Thirty is a good number right now, at this point of the season,” Caminero said through interpreter Kevin Vera. “We’re looking for more. Yeah, just really thankful for everything that I’ve been given last year and everything that I’ve been given this year so far. But not done yet.”
The two-time All-Star slugged 45 homers last season and is one of only six players in the Majors to reach 30 this year, joining the Astros’ Yordan Alvarez (35), the Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber (33), the Rockies’ Hunter Goodman (31), the Yankees’ Ben Rice (31) and the Nationals’ James Wood (30). Caminero is only the fourth player in franchise history with multiple 30-homer seasons, joining Evan Longoria (four times), Carlos Peña (three) and Brandon Lowe (two). He and Peña, who hit 30 or more from 2007-09, are the only Rays with consecutive 30-homer seasons. Caminero is also only the second Ray to reach 30 before the end of July — José Canseco had 31 in 1999.
“Very impressive. Happy for Junior,” manager Kevin Cash said. “I know he’s been sitting on it for longer than what he wanted, but he’s a really talented hitter. Matter of time.”
Caminero had gone 12 games without a homer since his most recent on July 17 in Boston, the second-longest drought of his career behind a 15-game stretch from Sept. 1-15, 2024. His projected 453-foot shot was the second-longest of his career, trailing only a projected 463-foot blast off Merrill Kelly at Tropicana Field on June 28. Beyond the power numbers, Caminero has improved his plate discipline this season, drawing 60 walks in 109 games after recording just 41 in 154 games last year while posting a 32.1% chase rate and 50.4% swing rate.
“I’m trying to be selective. I’m not trying to chase. I’m not trying to put myself in bad situations,” Caminero said. “It’s really important to just keep being selective moving forward and just keeping an eye for good pitches.”
The Rays’ offense managed little else in the series opener against the first-place White Sox. Starter Nick Martinez allowed a season-high-tying six runs on a career-high four homers in six innings. The series between the two first-place clubs continues at Tropicana Field this weekend.