A lot of fans have clamored for Caminero to be already promoted to the Majors. That intensified and took another level as the Tampa Bay Rays would go on to deal a couple of key hitters at the trade deadline, which meant that there was going to be an open roster spot. Well, fans got what they wanted – and Junior Caminero is definitely happier to see himself back on the big stage.

Caminero didn’t really believe that he would get a chance to return to the majors. But after 11 months, he was finally getting back to the big stage, and boy he did not miss the chance to make an impression for the Rays and all the fans who rooted for him at this point.

Caminero would go on to start at the third base and continued to bat fifth against the Houston Astros yesterday at Tropicana Field. There are high expectations for his game, but so far, he has managed to impress well with a blazing performance in his 2024 debut for the Rays, which says a lot about how he has played with a stronger pace in the game so far.

A Strong Potential in the Game

The no. 2 prospect for the Rays has been quite the impressive player that he was expected to be. Caminero just finished his season with the Double-A Montgomery last September when he was first called up to Tropicana Field to play for the Rays. He did not expect it back then, and certainly did not expect it now. Still, it was a great way for him to find his way back into the majors, and hopefully stay there for good.

“At that point, I was in Triple-A, and that was my big leagues. That was my team. I was there to be focused on that team,” Caminero said through interpreter Manny Navarro. “But now that I'm up here, now I'm focusing on here. … I'm going to do everything I can to help this team out and just do my part.”

At the age of 21, there are a lot of expectations for Caminero. But it does seem that the Rays are just keen to let him get comfortable at the highest level. He was called up without much of a designated role last time, but now he is slated to play as the team’s third baseman for the rest of the season.

“He's going to play a lot, and certainly, if he wants to provide a spark for our offense, we'll take it,” manager Kevin Cash said. “Last year was a pretty unique situation. … Like to think that he's a little bit better seasoned for it this year. And just to have a lane -- I don't think there was a clear lane for him last year to come in and play every day. He's going to have that now.”

A Return to Remember

Of course, Caminero did not manage to return right away and was hampered by a string of left quad strains. That injury held him to just 53 games in the Triple-A this season, even missing two weeks in April. His second injury led him to miss two months of action for Durham, and he was later reinstated from the injury list on July 19th.

In just nine games this month alone, Caminero went 14-40 with three homers. That just showed his impressive prowess in batting and the elite offense that he can offer for the Rays. For now, fans can hope to see him play a huge role in lifting the team’s hopes of a playoff chase with months left to play in the season.