Junior Caminero left the Midsummer Classic after he was hit by a pitch in the third inning. Emilee Chinn / Getty ImagesJuly 14, 2026 Updated 10:02 pm EDTPHILADELPHIA — In a second, a lively crowd at Citizens Bank Park was silenced. Not by a majestic home run or a deafening strikeout, but rather an injury to Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero early in Tuesday night’s MLB All-Star Game.In the top of the third inning, while facing St. Louis Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien, Caminero crumpled in a heap on the dirt situated near home plate after he was hit in his left hand by an errant 97.6 mph sinker.Caminero lay on the ground for a few seconds, holding his hand and grimacing in visible pain. After a visit from a trainer, he jogged off the field and down the steps of the visitors’ dugout.
Caminero underwent X-rays with a Philadelphia Phillies doctor, according to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb. The Fox broadcast said the X-rays were negative.He was replaced by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as a pinch runner. Vargas also took over at third for the American League in the next half-inning.Caminero, who turned 23 last week, is the guiding force behind a first-place Tampa Bay team that entered the break with a three-game lead over the New York Yankees in the AL East. On Monday night, Caminero competed in the Home Run Derby, bowing out in the semifinals to eventual winner Jordan Walker of the Cardinals.A two-time All-Star, Caminero has appeared in every Rays game this season.
