The Rays are heading to the World Series after taking Monday's Game 6 of the ALCS against the Guardians, 7-4. And no moment made the American League pennant feel more locked up than when Junior Caminero hit his two-run home run in the seventh inning.
Now, if you expected Caminero to race around the base path, you'd be sorely mistaken. Instead, Caminero unleashed an elaborate, celebration-filled home run trot that lasted nearly 40 seconds. In fact, it was the second-longest home run trot in the Statcast era, trailing a Sept. 15 Caminero home run (because, of course).
But for all the tantrums we've seen from pitchers in response to showmanship, Guardians pitcher Cade Smith couldn't have responded any better to Caminero's trot.
Cade Smith, after giving
up a HR to Junior Caminero then watching him take his time around the bases while celebrating in an exaggerated manner: “It's not my style but I guess if I don’t like it, I shouldn’t give up home runs.”
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) October 20, 2026
Simply put, if Smith had a problem with Caminero's celebration, he shouldn't have given up the home run. More pitchers should have that same mentality.
Plus, that home run trot was electric.
Junior Caminero!!
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 20, 2026
His 38.66-second home run trot is the 2nd-slowest under Statcast (2015) on an undisputed HR/uninterrupted trot
Behind his own 40.65 sec on 9/15
I LOVE BASEBALL! The energy!! https://t.co/xJ9DAbbHqy
Moments like that are good for the sport.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Guardians' Cade Smith had the perfect response to Junior Caminero's elaborate HR trot
