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Tampa Bay Rays third base prospect Junior Caminero (quadriceps) has been sidelined with a Grade 2 left quadriceps strain for a month and is nearing his expected return date.
Rays manager Kevin Cash told the media on May 28 that he expected their top prospect to be sidelined for approximately four to six weeks when Caminero was placed on the minor league injured list.
As we approach his potential return, the 20-year-old infielder, Junior Caminero, has re-entered the must-stash territory in all fantasy formats.
How High Is Junior Caminero's Fantasy Potential?
Caminero is considered the number three overall prospect in baseball on the MLB Pipeline, only behind Paul Skenes and Jackson Holliday. The 20-year-old got a brief taste of the majors last season, posting a .235/.278/.353 line with one home run and seven RBI in a small seven-game sample size.
Junior Caminero launches his first major league home run in game 162 of the season. 👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/e966sN0dCG
— Tricia Whitaker (@TriciaWhitaker) October 1, 2023
Before his unfortunate quadricep strain, Caminero was shining at Triple-A with a .261/.333/.478 slash line and eight home runs, 24 RBI, one stolen base, and a 14:35 BB:K ratio. This was his first taste of the Triple-A level, a performance that suggests he should have similar success in the majors.
#FantasyBaseball #RaysUp Junior Caminero is on one tonight! 2-3 with 2 home runs! BBEs:
110.2 MPH EV
103.3 MPH EVOnly a matter of time before he’s promoted⏳
pic.twitter.com/oDcDjkmDQt— Andrew DeCeglie (@Andrew_FBB) May 2, 2024
Last summer, he spent most of his time with Double-A Montgomery and had a .309/.373/.548 line with 20 home runs and 62 RBI through 81 games.
When Might Junior Caminero Get A Major-League Opportunity?
While Caminero is primarily a third baseman in most fantasy leagues, his ability to play at shortstop, a position where the Rays have had little production, could be his best route to the majors. In fact, Caminero played 29 games at the shortstop position last summer.
Junior Caminero is back and looks healthy..2-5 with a homer, a double, and drove in 5 RBIs
HR hit at 110 MPH EV and went 425 Feet💣
pic.twitter.com/yW65FFYhUC— Andrew DeCeglie (@Andrew_FBB) April 14, 2024
At shortstop, the Rays have had very little production, with Taylor Walls and Jose Caballero holding a .091 AVG and .237 AVG, respectively, and a combined 21 RBI. Isaac Paredes has been holding down the hot corner this season and has done exceptionally well with a .280 AVG and 11 home runs.
If not rostered already, Caminero should be a top waiver wire target this weekend. He could provide top power production during the second half of the summer while having both third base and shortstop eligibility.
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