ORLANDO, FL — Tampa Bay Rays star third baseman Junior Caminero will be playing in the 2026 World Baseball Classic this coming spring for his homeland of the Dominican Republic. The 22-year-old, born in Santo Domingo, D.R., broke the news himself on his Instagram account earlier this week, making for a lifelong dream of his.
The right-handed slugger, still a youngster on the Major League scene, goes back to the Dominican Republic every offseason to spend time with his family and stay fresh on the diamond—hitting one of the most epic home runs of the 2024-2025 LIDOM season with the Leones del Escogido against the Tigres del Licey in Game 7 of the LIDOM Championship, which sent them to the Caribbean Series.
At the Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida, Rays manager Kevin Cash spoke about the progress from Caminero throughout his first full MLB season on and off the field during 2025.
“He was incredible,” he said. “I mean, he exceeded every expectation you could ever ask of a 22-year-old player. And, you know, but I have seen him this offseason in the Dominican Republic.”
Rays manager Kevin Cash taking questions from the media during the Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida on Monday, December 8th – Image Credit: Julian Guilarte/Latino Sports
Caminero hit 45 home runs in 2025, nearly breaking Carlos Peña’s franchise record of 46, which was set in 2007. The offensive package has proven to be extremely impressive, but Cash was actually more impressed with the strides he made defensively at third base.
“His work ethic is off the charts, his care to be a good teammate is off the charts, and he can really hit. And I think we don’t talk about enough, is that coming out of spring training, there was a legitimate concern about his defense.” -Rays manager Kevin Cash
Caminero only played 39 games at third base in 2024, and was extremely raw defensively. He even struggled early in the 2025 season though it must be noted the Rays were traveling more than any other team while adjusting to a new home ballpark at George M. Steinbrenner Field due to Hurricane Milton severely damaging Tropicana Field.
In 2025, the Rays played their home games at George M. Steinbrenner Field due to Hurricane Milton severely damaging Tropicana Field – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
“For me, I was not confident, and I give him so much credit,” Cash revealed. “After about a month into the season, he was really working on his defense with Brady Williams and Rodney Linares.”
The coaching staff really helped Caminero, but he also received some help from his infield teammates as well.
“Taylor Walls and that group were helping him along, and he became a very good defensive player to the point where when the game was on the line, and there was a ground ball hit down the third base, we felt really good about it,” Cash added.
I also asked about Caminero’s possibility of an early extension, but Cash respectfully declined to comment on that. The Rays need a star that they can build around and have comfort in knowing that he will be with the team for a long time.
Furthermore, the future LatinoMVP finalist has helped the franchise and fanbase in Tampa Bay fill the void that was left behind in the wake of the fallout with Wander Franco.
In 154 games last season, he not only showed a lot of power, but also hit for a .264 batting average, which is very respectable in today’s game. Additionally, Caminero recorded 110 RBI, an OPS of .846 in 602 at-bats, and ranked third in fWAR (4.6) among all third basemen, which trailed fellow Latinos Maikel Garcia (Venezuela) and José Ramírez.
Regarding the WBC and where he may end up getting slotted it, Caminero could end up sharing the same infield as Ramírez, or it’s possible that he ends up as the Dominican Republic’s designated hitter.
Junior Caminero announced on his Instagram earlier this week that he will be playing for the Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic – Image Credit: Francisco Rodriguez/Latino Sports
The lineup construction is a good problem to have for Dominican Republic’s manager Albert Pujols with Nelson Cruz alongside serving as the nation’s general manager.
Both Pujols and Cruz, combining for 1,167 home runs in their legendary MLB playing-careers, spoke to the media during the Winter Meetings in addition to Cash.
“The biggest challenge is winning, you know it’s not easy,” Pujols said. “You can have all the talent and have all the players that you have, but at the end of the day, the players are going to be out there and perform.”
“Our job is to put them in the best position to go out there and win a championship.”
Nelson Cruz (L) and Albert Pujols (R) speaking to the press on Tuesday, December 9th at the Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida – Image Credit: Julian Guilarte/Latino Sports
For Cruz, this is also a special opportunity and shot at redemption after the Dominican Republic came up short in the 2023 WBC.
“We have been blessed to have so many good players and to be able to put together the dream team that the fans can be proud of,” Cruz said. “I think we are in a similar situation that we were in 2009. We lost in the first round, then we won it all in 2013. We understand how important it is, the players understand it, and like I said, we have to put the best roster out there.”
The fact that Junior Caminero broke through on such a talented roster says a lot about where he is as a player. The Dominican Republic and Rays should, and rightfully so, be extremely excited about his future.
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