sports
Rays Third Baseman Junior Caminero Commits to 2026 Home Run Derby
Tampa Bay Rays slugger Junior Caminero will compete in the July 13 event in Philadelphia. The 22-year-old hit 45 home runs in 2025 and reached last year's final.
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Junior Caminero committed Tuesday to participate in the 2026 All-Star Home Run Derby on July 13 in Philadelphia, ESPN reported. The 22-year-old third baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays from the Dominican Republic entered Tuesday night's game at Kansas City with 22 home runs this season. He hit 45 home runs in 2025, finishing sixth in Major League Baseball behind Cal Raleigh's 60.
Caminero advanced to the final round of the 2025 Derby and lost to Raleigh 18-15 after using a multicolored bat. MLB is removing the clock from this year's contest and giving each hitter 20 swings in the first round. A player who homers on the 20th swing will continue until failing to hit another long ball.
The top four advance, with distance of the longest homer serving as the tiebreaker. The event will air on Netflix.
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