Following a week during which he hit seven home runs in six games, it seemed only fitting for Rays slugger Junior Caminero to announce Tuesday he will participate in the Home Run Derby during All-Star Week in Philadelphia.
Caminero became the first player to confirm his Derby spot, and it came on the heels of his record-breaking performance at the plate for Tampa Bay. After sparking his hot streak with the first three-homer game of his career on June 23, the 22-year-old wrapped the week Sunday by going deep in his fourth consecutive game.
He became the youngest Ray to homer in four straight games when he crushed a career-best 463-foot blast on Sunday.
“That was the type of ball that made everyone go quiet,” Tampa Bay center fielder Cedric Mullins said. “Instead of cheering, we’re all just looking at each other. … Special kind of power out of him.”
Caminero’s seven home runs in six games tied him with Bryce Harper (2015), Willie Horton (1965) and Boog Powell (1964) for the most by a hitter age 22 or younger since at least 1900.
In the Rays’ game Tuesday night at Kansas City, Caminero can extend his streak to five games. He enters the night with 22 homers and a .292/.384/.548 slash line in 81 games this season.
He is, Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said, a “special player doing special things.”
Now, Caminero has a chance to avenge his runner-up finish in last year’s Home Run Derby, when champion Cal Raleigh outhit him 18-13 in the final round. Should Caminero claim this year’s trophy, he would become the youngest player to win the competition.
The competition begins at 8 p.m. ET on July 13 at Citizens Bank Park.
