LOS ANGELES — Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero leads all American League players at his position in the first 2026 All-Star Game balloting update, pulling in 625,520 votes — nearly 70,000 more than the Blue Jays’ Kazuma Okamoto at 556,172 and well ahead of White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas at 329,208.

“Thank God for the fans,” the 22-year-old Caminero said at Dodger Stadium on Monday. “When I see the fans and the support they give me, it’s amazing.”

Phase 1 of voting runs through noon ET on June 25, but the early margin puts Caminero in strong position to become the first Ray to start back-to-back All-Star Games. Only Evan Longoria, elected in 2009-10, has been a fan-elected third baseman for Tampa Bay. The franchise has had just eight elected starters in its history, and only five actually played in the Midsummer Classic: Yandy Díaz and Randy Arozarena in 2023, Corey Dickerson in 2017, and Carl Crawford and Longoria in 2010.

Caminero is not the only Ray drawing support. Díaz ranked third among AL designated hitters with 267,585 votes, trailing Yordan Alvarez and George Springer. First baseman Jonathan Aranda sat eighth at his position with 115,412.

“He’d be my leading vote-getter, too,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said of Caminero. “He certainly has performed like an All-Star, and I know he embraces it. … It’s a big deal, and it should be a big deal to be honored by your fans or your peers, your teammates. However it comes, it is a very big deal.”

Caminero’s numbers back the billing. He hit 45 homers, drove in 110 runs and posted an .846 OPS across 154 games last season. Through 69 games this year, he is batting .275/.372/.492 with 15 homers and 32 RBIs. Pitchers have adjusted — only 41.4% of pitches he has seen this season have been in the strike zone, down from 49% last year, one of the steepest drop-offs in the Majors from season to season. Caminero said the shift has forced growth.

“I’ve stayed more patient at home plate. Last year, I’d swing at everything,” Caminero said. “Now, my second season, I stay more relaxed at home plate, stay more patient. I feel like the game talks to you.”

Rays starter Drew Rasmussen pointed to Caminero’s performances on the biggest stages, including last year’s Home Run Derby and the World Baseball Classic. “What he did last year and what he’s continued to do this year, the performance he put up in the WBC, there’s a lot that goes into it, right? You get to see the talent on the biggest stage,” Rasmussen said. “And on top of that, the performance is just so consistent day in and day out. Happy for him. It’s great. I think he deserves all the recognition he gets.”

Fans have until June 25 to cast Phase 1 ballots, with finalists advancing to a second round that will determine All-Star Game starters.