PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero quickly became one of the best young stars in baseball last year, hitting 45 home runs.

That has led him to become a new fan favorite in Tampa Bay. 

At the team’s Spring Training opener last Saturday in Port Charlotte, Caminero was the star of the show in the stands with plenty of No. 13 jerseys worn by fans. He also was the star of the show on the field going 2-for-3 at the plate with a couple singles.

“Yeah I feel comfortable, I feel amazing, I feel my body is good, everything good and yeah, continue to work,” Caminero said after the game.

Caminero also surprised the media last week on the first day of full-squad workouts when he did his first interview completely in English. Rays interpretor Kevin Vera stood next to him throughout the interview, but Caminero did not need him once and even joked about it and gestured to Vera.

“Yeah I worked a lot on my English in the last offseason, I want to try 1% more every day to make a little bit more my interviews in English,” Caminero said.

That’s part of becoming a fan favorite and face of the franchise.

Learning English was a priority for him, seeing other Dominican stars in the MLB do the same thing, like Fernando Tatis Jr., Julio Rodriguez, Elly De La Cruz, Juan Soto, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

“I try to talk to all the guys and to (Kevin) Cash I try to have conversations with any guys and I learned a lot last year,” Caminero said.

Junior Caminero takes the field during Rays Spring Training practice at Charlottte Sports Park. (Michael Epps – Spectrum Sports 360)

After looking up to all of those all-stars, Caminero gets to play with them when they represent the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic in March.

“For me I can’t wait, it’s the best moment when you represent the Dominican. I will try to put on a good show there and enjoy it with my team and I’m really excited because this is my first time in the WBC,” Caminero said.

When he gets back to Florida, he will be relied on as a leader in the clubhouse. His 45 home runs last year was one shy of the Rays franchise record held by Carlos Pena in 2007.

“Junior’s probably a little more motivated than most right now to get the timing locked down at the plate,” said Rays manager Kevin Cash. “And he’s been doing it on the back field and it just transitioned over I mean Junior can really hit and he’s got a knack for getting the barrel to the ball.”

If he follows up his breakthrough 2025 with another big year, talks about a contract extension will only heat up. He said when the team is ready to talk about it, he and his agent will be listening.

“I’d like to but it’s not my decision I feel this is my city, Tampa. I love Tampa but it’s not my decision,” he said. “I control what I can control. Go play, have fun and this decision talk to my agent and the new owners, just me control what I can control and have fun and play.”

The World Baseball Classic runs from March 3-17 and then players will return to Spring Training and gear up for MLB Opening Day on March 26.