Rays third baseman Junior Caminero hits first postseason homer to clinch AL pennant
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The gist
Rays third baseman Junior Caminero hit a two-run homer in ALCS Game 6 to clinch the pennant.
The 23-year-old's breakout year now carries into a Rays-Brewers World Series.
Background
Junior Caminero is a 23-year-old Dominican third baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays, an All-Star in his fourth MLB season. After a 2026 regular season of 42 homers and 101 RBIs over 162 games, he had gone 34 postseason at-bats without a home run dating to 2023 before connecting in Game 6 of the ALCS (American League Championship Series) against the Cleveland Guardians. The Rays had the best record in the American League and beat both the Yankees and Guardians in the playoffs to reach the World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers.
How it unfolded
- Sep 2023Caminero made his MLB debut.
- 2025His first full-time season: 45 homers with 110 RBI.
- Sep 15, 2026He took 40.65 seconds to round the bases after a home run against the Athletics, the slowest trot under Statcast.
- Oct 5, 2026The Rays beat the New York Yankees 5-2 in Game 2 of the ALDS at Tropicana Field.
- Oct 17, 2026Caminero hit an RBI double in the sixth inning of ALCS Game 4 against the Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland.
- Oct 18, 2026The Rays evened the ALCS at two games apiece with a Game 4 win; Caminero, 23, batted fourth in Game 5.
- Oct 19, 2026Caminero hit his first career postseason home run, a two-run shot off Guardians closer Cade Smith in the seventh inning of Game 6, pushing the Rays' lead to 5-1 in a 7-3 pennant-clinching win at Tropicana Field. His 38.66-second trot was the second-slowest under Statcast on an undisputed home run.
- Oct 19, 2026The Rays clinched the 2026 AL pennant and advanced to face the Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series, Game 1 on Friday, October 23rd at 5 PM.
- Oct 23, 2026Caminero broke the scoreboard in center field during batting practice with a home run.
Who’s saying what
- Teammate
- Rays outfielder Cedric Mullins said Caminero's upside is his consistency, noting he bounced back from a slow start with a hot streak.
- Manager
- Rays manager Kevin Cash called Caminero a special player and teammate and said he expects him to rise to the occasion.
- Caution
- An SI/Inside The Rays writer argued the Rays need to sign Caminero to a long-term extension sooner rather than later.