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Junior Caminero of Tampa Bay Rays Named MVP of Dominican Winter League

After an incredible run in LIDOM that culminated in him hitting a game-winning home run in the championship series, Tampa Bay Rays youngster Junior Caminero earned league MVP honors.

Brady Farkas

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (13) checks his iPad in the dugout against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in 2024.
Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (13) checks his iPad in the dugout against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in 2024. / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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Tampa Bay Rays youngster Junior Caminero was named the MVP of the Dominican Winter League this week. The honor follows an incredible season that culminated in Caminero's game-winning home run in Game 7 of the championship series.

Playing for Leones del Escogido, Caminero hit a massive blast to center field, and then his bat flip and celebration went viral.

In 22 games this winter, Caminero hit .417 with four home runs and 35 hits. The Rays will hope this is a precursor of what's to come for them in 2025.

The 21-year-old Caminero played 43 games for the Rays in 2024, posting a 0.7 WAR. He hit .248 with six homers and 18 RBI. He figures to play a more prominent role for the group in 2025, especially as Wander Franco's legal situation continues to keep him from playing in Major League Baseball.

Having debuted in 2023, Caminero has played in 50 total games for the Rays. He's joined by Jonathan Aranda, Oslevis Basabe, Jose Caballero, Yandy Diaz, Brandon Lowe, Curtis Mead, Christopher Morel, Richie Palacios and Taylor Walls as infielders on the 40-man roster.

The Rays also just signed veteran infielder Ha-seong Kim to a two-year deal, though he's going to be out until least May with a shoulder injury.

There is a logjam of infielders for Tampa Bay, but the Rays could perhaps look to move one of them in order to free up room. Caminero could certainly benefit from that as well.

Opening Day around baseball is set for March 27. The Rays report to spring training in less than two weeks.

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Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

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