In his first full year in the majors, Caminero was an absolute monster, slashing .264/.311/.535 with an .846 OPS (131 OPS+). He finished with 45 home runs, 110 RBIs, 129 wRC+, and led Tampa with 4.4 bWAR. His spectacular season saw him make his first All-Star team, be named to the All-MLB Second Team, and finish ninth in AL MVP voting.
It seemed like every time you turned around this year, Caminero was adding his name to one exclusive list or another. Being mentioned in the same breath as Joe DiMaggio, Eddie Matthews, Johnny Bench, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is high praise indeed.
Players in MLB history with 44+ home runs and 100+ RBI in an age 22 or younger season:
– Joe DiMaggio (1937)
– Eddie Matthews (1953)
– Johnny Bench (1970)
– Vladimir Guererro Jr. (2021)
– Junior Caminero (2025)
The kid is in some incredible company. pic.twitter.com/klaDbVXxzg
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) September 23, 2025
Why Would the Rays Hesitate To Sign Junior Caminero?
The 22-year-old might just be the best value for a hitter in the majors right now. The Rays still have five years of team control, and he’s still two seasons away from even being arbitration-eligible. Spotrac estimates his 2026 salary will be $820,000.
You might forgive the Rays for being a little gun-shy about inking a young superstar to a long-term deal. Remember the sad situation that unfolded after they signed shortstop Wander Franco to an 11-year, $182 million contract ahead of the 2022 season?
Franco’s contract jacked up the Rays’ payroll to that $98 million high-water mark in 2022, before he was gone from MLB partway through 2023.
Franco was supposed to be the future of Rays baseball. At 20, he looked poised to star in the AL East for another decade-plus. Instead, he’s out of baseball, and the Rays are still waiting to see if they can permanently get out from under his contract.