The All-Star Game is supposed to be a showcase. For Tampa Bay Rays infielder Junior Caminero, it turned into a scare in the third inning Tuesday night.
Caminero took a pitch off his left hand from National League reliever Riley O’Brien and immediately left the game. The AL went on to win 4-0, but the real story back in the clubhouse was whether one of the league’s brightest young stars had broken something.
X-rays came back negative, which is the good news. But Caminero didn’t know that in the moment. He told ESPN’s Jorge Castillo that he was genuinely afraid.
“I felt a little scared,” Caminero said in Spanish. “I said, ‘Wow I think something is broken.’ Because in the moment, you think about bad things. But, thank God, everything is fine. A little sore, but nothing. Ready for Friday.”
A Quick Visit From the Apology Committee
O’Brien didn’t wait long to check on the guy he’d just drilled. He swung by the AL clubhouse after the game to make sure Caminero was alright and to say sorry. It was a small move, but it meant something to Caminero.
“He was very worried,” Caminero said. “I told him, ‘No, that’s part of the game.’ I’m very happy because he came here to the All-Star Game and he’s very deserving. And that’s part of the game. He shouldn’t feel bad. I’m proud of him and everything is fine.”
So no hard feelings. And no broken bones. That’s a win for the Rays, who need their guy healthy for the second half.
Caminero’s Big Weekend
The All-Star break was already a big deal for Caminero before the HBP. He participated in the Home Run Derby on Monday and launched 17 home runs. He also became the first Rays player ever to make back-to-back All-Star Game appearances. In his first at-bat of the game, he grounded out. Then O’Brien’s pitch ended his night early.
But the season numbers tell you why he was there in the first place. Caminero is hitting .279 with 28 home runs and 59 RBIs. He’s been a central piece of a Rays team that’s 56-38 and sitting in first place in the AL East.
That’s not a fluke. That’s a 22-year-old star who’s still getting better.
What’s Next
The Rays open a three-game series on the road against the Boston Red Sox on Friday. Caminero says he’ll be ready. For a team that’s already dealing with its share of injuries, having him in the lineup against a division rival is a low-key big deal.
One pitch almost changed that. But for now, Caminero’s hand is sore, nothing more. And the Rays can breathe.
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