Junior Caminero enjoys having his dad along, especially on Father’s Day

NEW YORK —With Rays players bringing along their wives and kids on the annual family trip, Junior Caminero joined in by having his father, Juan, come along to spend time together and enjoy the series at Fenway Park and Citi Field.

The only negative was that Caminero didn’t have a hit in the first four games, going into play Saturday on an 0-for-16 skid.

Caminero, 21, said Juan, a truck driver by trade, had a big influence on his career, as also did his mom, Yeudy.

“He was always an exemplary dad,” said Caminero, via team interpreter Eddie Rodriguez. “He was always here to tell me when I did good. And right now, during my time in the major leagues, he’s just there if I have a bad day he tells me, ‘Hey, tomorrow is another day, you’re going to have a better day.’ So I’m happy to have him here.”

Caminero said he considered it an honor to have his father watching, but acknowledged “sometimes I try to perform a little bit more and try to do too much for him.”

Caminero said he didn’t realize when he and Juan were working out the details for him to come up from the Dominican Republic that the trip included Sunday’s Father’s Day game against the Mets.

“I told him that it’s an honor to have him here for Father’s Day,” Caminero said. “I’m glad that he’s here (in New York) because I didn’t have a good series in Boston. But having him there I was just happy and I was spending time with him. It was a good thing for me.”

Starry-eyedManager Kevin Cash hopes pitcher Drew Rasmussen is one of several Rays considered for the MLB All-Star Game. [ JEFFEREE WOO | Times ]

Manager Kevin Cash mentioned starter Drew Rasmussen first, and also first baseman Jonathan Aranda, third baseman Junior Caminero and second baseman Brandon Lowe, as worthy candidates for the American League All-Star team.

“I think we’ve got a lot of All-Stars,” Cash said. “We’ve got a lot of guys that are doing a lot of good things. … We’ve got a lot of people that hopefully are going to get a lot of consideration.”

Pitching in

Cash offered a little more detail Saturday on the status of ace starter Shane McClanahan, who paused his official throwing progression after one full-distance bullpen session and will see a nerve specialist this week. He has been sidelined since late spring with a nerve issue in his triceps.

“He’s kind of plateaued a little bit,” Cash said. “He’s going to go see a doctor. He’s still throwing, he threw out to 105 feet and, to my knowledge, felt really good.

“I said the other day that Mac, he’s just having a rough time not feeling like himself. But so many people are continuing to tell him that it’s a little bit of an unknown, a little bit of uncertainty with the nerve. Like this is normal from what we’re understanding. So we’re just going to continue to support him.”

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Veteran starter Kyle Gibson’s stint at Triple-A Durham has worked well so far, with a 0.73 ERA through three starts, allowing one run over 12 1/3 innings (with 10 hits, 14 strikeouts, four walks). Gibson, 37, signed after being released by Baltimore with an 0-3, 16.78 record and with the opportunity to leave for a big-league job after Friday.

Miscellany

The start of Saturday’s game against the Mets at Citi Field was delayed due to rain that had been falling much of the day. … Reliever Forrest Whitley, acquired Friday in trade from Houston, is slated to join the Rays on Monday, and they will have to create a spot for him on the 26-man roster. … Starter Taj Bradley, who was struck on the back of his right foot by a 111-mph Sterling Marte line drive Friday — but didn’t leave the game at the time — relayed an update through a team spokesperson on Saturday: “I’m good.” … The five unearned runs allowed Friday — related to a season-high-matching three errors — matched the most in a win in franchise history, also done May 21, 1999, versus the Angels. … Shane Baz said he’ll go into Sunday’s first-ever meeting with the Mets well aware of the challenges they present, and said he will enjoy the experience of the large and loud crowd. … Christopher Morel’s 399-foot, sixth-inning flyout at Fenway on Tuesday would have been a home run in 17 stadiums, per Statcast.

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