The Tampa Bay Rays, looking to make one final push to unseat the Baltimore Orioles for the American League East division title, have decided to make one more move on offense, calling up top hitting prospect Junior Caminero from Double-A Montgomery. The move was first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan, and shortly thereafter, a video of Montgomery Biscuits manager Morgan Ensberg informing Caminero in front of his teammates that he was going to the big leagues surfaced.
BREAKING: The Tampa Bay Rays are calling up top infield prospect Junior Caminero, sources tell ESPN. Caminero, 20, will make the leap from AA, where he was hitting .309/.373/.548 with 20 HR in 314 ABs.
News, free and unlocked, at ESPN: https://t.co/HcW0hWxrpJ
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 22, 2023
Junior Caminero finding out he’s going to the big leagues is awesome ?? pic.twitter.com/wgiQegJ44M
— Milb Central (@milb_central) September 22, 2023
Caminero, who was acquired by Tampa Bay from the Cleveland Guardians on November 19, 2021 in exchange for minor-league pitcher Tobias Myers, began 2023 at High-A Bowling Green, moving to Double-A Montgomery after just 36 games. In 117 games between the Hot Rods and Biscuits, he hit .324/.384/.591 with 31 home runs and 94 RBI. At 20 years, 79 days, he will be the youngest player on a major league roster.
The Rays have not made the move official or announced a corresponding move or moves to get Caminero on both the 40-man and active rosters.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
