Dave Roberts didn’t need long to figure out Junior Caminero was the kind of hitter you notice right away.
The Dodgers manager, who has spent six All-Star breaks on coaching staffs in his 11-year career and served five times as the National League manager, got another close look at the Rays third baseman during the Midsummer Classic. Roberts doesn’t coach American League players on a daily basis, but the All-Star setting gives him a front-row seat to talent across the league, and Caminero clearly caught his eye.
“I’m just happy he’s not in our division or our league, but he’s a great young player. I think for me and John (Schneider), it’s just great to see a hitter,” Roberts said. “I think that in this day there’s a lot of kind of home run, strikeout.
“This guy has slug, but he can also hit and make a two-strike adjustment. As a fan of the game, it’s fun to watch him.”
The Dodgers have already seen plenty of Caminero, thanks to MLB’s balanced schedule. Los Angeles swept Tampa Bay earlier this season, and Caminero finished that series 3-for-10 with one RBI and one walk.
There’s even a chance the two clubs could cross paths again on the biggest stage. The Dodgers own the best record in baseball, while the Rays are sitting atop the AL at 56-38.
Caminero’s rise has been quick. He originally signed with the Cleveland Guardians as an amateur international free agent on July 2, 2019, then was traded to the Rays in 2021. By 2024, he had climbed to No. 4 on baseball’s prospect list.
He earned his first All-Star selection last year in what was his first full season in the majors, then got another nod in 2026 and started at third base for the American League. That appearance ended early after he was hit on the left hand by a pitch in the third inning. Caminero went 0-for-1 before leaving, but the Rays got a break when X-rays came back negative.
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