I have almost run out of words and ways to marvel at what Junior Caminero is doing this year. He just turned 22, this is his age 21 season, and the only players who have done things like this are either in the Hall of Fame, will be in the Hall of Fame, or merely a former MVP.
Tonight he moved on up the Rays single season HR chart tying and then surpassing Logan Morrison’s insane 2017 campaign. Now Junior is only looking up, tied for 2nd most homers in a season at 39 with Carlos Pena and Brandon Lowe.
The next one he hits will be number 40 and give him 2nd place all to himself. 7 more dingers this year and Carlos Pena’s 46 HRs 2007 record will be in grasp.
But it wasn’t just the long ball for Junior. Caminero decided to do a Chandler Simpson impersonation, and be a terror on the base paths. A stolen base attempt got Caminero to second with a balk, Cami then got a bag officially stealing 3rd. On the steal attempt, he drew an errant throw, allowing him to sashay home to get the Rays on the board first.
But it’s not the effecient base running, and pesky sneaky speed that chicks love: it’s the long ball. The home run that got him to 2nd place was another thing to marvel at. A pitch sweeping across the zone and low that Caminero not only timed up and reached but elevated. This is not a pitch that should end up there!
On the night, Junior went 4-5 with 2 HRs a double, and 3 RBI. Not to be outdone, the other former Cleveland prospect, Yandy Diaz, also went deep against his former club. On the night, the Rays bats were locked in. You had the hitting Seymour knock in a run. Carson Williams continued his fantastic Major League start with a couple more hits, including a 2-out, 2 run, double.
Overall, Rays drove in 9 runs, on a whopping 14 hits, 14 hard hit balls, 3 HRs, and generating scoring opportunities galore. When the top Exit Velo list on Savant looks like this, you know you had a good night at the dish.
Not that the Rays needed that many on this night as the pitching Seymour was incredible making his first Major League start.
Ian Seymour, the first left handed pitcher to start a game for the Rays in 2025, made sure that it won’t be the only one this season. Seymour was effeciant and excellent, keeping Cleveland hitters guessing (incorrectly) and off balance (frequently). Not with overpowering stuff, but with deceptive movement and relentless strike throwing.
Seymour got 10 whiffs, pounded the zone, and gave up just 3 well struck balls all evening over his 5 innings of 1 hit and 8 K work. The Rays pen picked up where Seymour left off on either end of another lengthy rain delay.
The next Cleveland hit wouldn’t come for several hours, and was short lived as a threat. On the night Rays pitchers, Seymour, Cleavinger, Baker, and Englert, gave up just 2 hits and 2 BBs.
The bats and arms came to play, and there wasn’t much else needed. However, the only real threat Cleveland mounted was thrwarted by the nice effort diving catch from Jake Mangum.
The Rays are now on a 3 game winning streak, and look to get back to back series wins tomorrow. Good, complete, fun baseball — oh how I’ve missed you and oh how I’m thankful for your return to this team.
