When Will Junior Caminero Return and Be Back? Fantasy Baseball Injury Update

In a rare turn of events, not a lot has gone right for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2024. The club sits last in the difficult AL East with a 31-35 record while its -65 run differential is only superior to the A's and White Sox among American League clubs. Not only has the on-field performance diminished but the injury bug has been a constant force.

The club's starting rotation was absolutely decimated before the season even took off but the likes of Brandon Lowe, Josh Lowe, and Taylor Walls have largely been absent. You can add top prospect Junior Caminero to that list as the 20-year-old has yet to appear in a game for the big club in 2024 and has played just 34 games with Triple-A Durham.

Let's check in on Caminero's injury status and what fantasy managers can expect when he gets back in action.

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Junior Caminero Injury Update for Fantasy Baseball

Fantasy managers will need to exercise some significant patience when it comes to Caminero as manager Kevin Cash said at the end of May that the highly touted infielder will miss 4-6 weeks with a quadriceps strain. Caminero has been bothered by the issue for much of the season and he hit the seven-day injured list on May 29.

Will have plenty more off of this game, but here's a quick look at Junior Caminero from last night.

Still seems hampered by that early season quad injury, but the bat speed - and approach to do damage - is still certainly there. This was 98 off the bat, which is light for him. pic.twitter.com/xt85n6HqxG

— Mike Ashmore (@mashmore98) May 11, 2024

While we're nearly two weeks removed from his IL placement, there will be zero rushing this guy back. Expect the organization to be extremely careful with its prized youngster, even if it means an absence into the MLB All-Star break in mid-July.

Junior Caminero Fantasy Baseball Outlook

Not only has Caminero dealt with a wonky quad for most of the season, but he hasn't quite been himself when on the field, either. Caminero is hitting .261 with eight home runs and an .811 OPS across 153 trips to the plate for Durham. Considering the hitter-friendly nature of the International League, that type of production sits just 6 percent superior to the league average.

Junior Caminero flexes his 70-grade power 💪

MLB's No. 3 prospect (@RaysBaseball) launches a 107 mph laser for his eighth homer of the year for the @DurhamBulls. pic.twitter.com/RGi2uynvlO

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 26, 2024

It's difficult to find fault in that type of production for a 20-year-old but also consider Caminero hit .309 with 20 homers and a .921 OPS in 81 games at Double-A last season before getting a seven-game cup of coffee with the Rays. His Triple-A sample isn't substantial enough to draw a ton of conclusions, especially while nursing an injury, but it's been a mild 2024 campaign for Caminero to this point.

However, the hit tool and power are there with authority as dynasty managers will want to keep a close grasp on Caminero despite his mediocre 2024 campaign to this point.

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