Overview
- Junior Caminero, who was hit in the jaw by a foul ball that bounced off the plate during Tuesday’s first inning in Cleveland, finished the at-bat with a groundout to Tanner Bibee and then left the game.
- After Tuesday’s scare, the Rays diagnosed a bruised right jaw and listed the 22-year-old third baseman day-to-day.
- By Wednesday afternoon, Tampa Bay returned him to his usual No. 2 spot in the order, matching manager Kevin Cash’s expectation that he would miss little to no time.
- Caminero said tests showed no serious damage, he even ate a hamburger after the exam, and he noted his braces protected his teeth from the impact.
- Signed by Cleveland in 2019 and traded to Tampa Bay in 2021, Caminero broke out with 45 home runs in 2025 and now leads the Rays with eight this season, underscoring why his quick return matters for an 18-11 club on a six-game win streak.