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First-time All-Star Caminero joins Home Run Derby field
DETROIT — Standing in front of his locker in the corner of the home clubhouse at George M. Steinbrenner Field last month, Junior Caminero thought about taking part in the T-Mobile Home Run Derby and smiled.
“I mean, if I go — I’m not going to say I’m going to win,” Caminero said through interpreter Eddie Rodriguez, “but I will put on a good show for the fans.”
Get a good seat, because the show starts Monday.
2025 T-Mobile Home Run Derby
• Monday, 8 p.m. ET (Watch on ESPN)
• Everything to know about this year’s Derby
• Here’s who is competing in 2025 HR Derby
• These are the best HR Derby moments ever
After being added to the American League All-Star team on Tuesday night, Caminero announced Wednesday morning that he will take part in the Home Run Derby at Truist Park in Atlanta. Caminero seems made for an event like this. Among Major League hitters, his elite bat speed is surpassed only by Pirates star Oneil Cruz, who will also take part in the Derby. When he connects with a baseball, he can practically launch it into orbit with jaw-dropping exit velocities.
He once put on a round of batting practice so impressive that Blue Jays fans in Toronto gave him a standing ovation after seeing him pepper the upper decks with BP homers.
Caminero has the numbers to back it up, too. In his first full season with the Rays, the slugging third baseman — who just turned 22 years old last Saturday — has slugged 21 homers in 86 games. Only Cal Raleigh, Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Schwarber, Eugenio Suárez, Seiya Suzuki, Pete Crow-Armstrong, James Wood and Riley Greene have hit more.
And Caminero seems to have a flair for the moment that will play well in an event like the Derby. For proof, look no further than his game-winning home run in Game 7 of the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League’s championship series, a 454-foot moonshot off the scoreboard that preceded a minute-long trot around the bases.
How might Caminero celebrate his first Home Run Derby title? As he said, it’ll be a good show.
