Junior Town
Junior Caminero (TBR): 3-5, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.
The Tampa Bay Rays are at a crossroads as an organization.
The club is 80-81 after its 7-2 win over Boston on Saturday. This will be the first time Tampa Bay will not be in the postseason since 2018 when it finished 90-72. This season will be their worst campaign record-wise since 2017, when they went 80-82. The Rays will try to avoid tying that record on Sunday, hoping they can finish .500 for the season with a win in the 2024 season finale.
The Rays want to return to their winning ways in 2025, especially since it was just last season when they went 99-63 and were one of the model franchises in baseball. However, the scandal and suspension of Wander Franco have seemed to stunt the organization. Tampa Bay was swept at home in the Wild Card last year and will miss the postseason in 2024.
The organization needs another star to build around in 2025.
Perhaps Junior Caminero can be that franchise building block.
On Saturday, he went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBI. He also hit his sixth home run of the season, which is pretty encouraging in only 173 plate appearances.
There’s no question that Caminero has a lot of natural skills worth building around. This year, he has an 11.8% barrel rate and a 46.2% hard-hit rate, and his 26.9% LA Sweet-Spot percentage is 11.5% higher than his rookie season. Even though he hasn’t gotten much opportunity in Tampa this year (due to injury and Tampa’s service time-saving ways), he has demonstrated that he will be in the starting lineup on Opening Day in 2025.
It’s doubtful that the Rays will spend significant money in free agency this offseason. Thus, the Rays will need more talent next year to surpass the Yankees and Orioles in the AL East standings. Caminero has the hard-hit ability and bat speed to be a potential All-Star as soon as next season. The defense isn’t quite what Tampa Bay fans saw with Franco, but the power potential may be greater than the former Rays franchise player.
Don’t be surprised to see Tampa Bay become a “Junior Town” in 2025, with Caminero establishing himself as the Rays franchise’s star and primary run producer next season and beyond.
Let’s see how the other hitters did Saturday.
Emmanuel Rivera (BAL): 4-4, 2B, 2 HR, 3 R, 4 RBI, BB.
The Orioles’ third baseman had a big day with four hits, two home runs, and four RBI in their 9-2 win over a Twins team that was eliminated from the postseason on Friday night. After being let go by Miami earlier in the season, Rivera has found a regular spot at the hot corner in Baltimore. The Orioles need consistent offense to make a run in the postseason, and perhaps Rivera could be that October hero for Baltimore.
Kiké Hernández (LAD): 3-5, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB.
The Dodgers piled on the Rockies in Denver, with Hernandez being one of the standout performers. He also hit his 12th home run of the year and collected three RBI. After an up-and-down season due to injuries, the Dodgers hope their lineup will be settled in the postseason. Hernandez could be a key piece in helping stabilize their lineup, especially against left-handed starting pitchers.
Dane Myers (MIA): 2-4, 2B, HR, R, 5 RBI.
The Marlins are trying to find pieces to build around 2025. Perhaps Myers could be one of them. The former Tigers draft pick is hitting .264 with a .788 OPS in 101 plate appearances, and on Saturday, he hit his third home run of the season. Myers is a bit old at 28, but he has a combination of speed and power that could be intriguing for Miami (though he does need to cut down his 34.6% K% next year).
Yasmani Grandal (PIT): 3-4, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI.
It’s another playoff-less season for Pirates fans, but Grandal is trying to prove he can still stick around, whether it’s in Pittsburgh or another MLB team. Against the Yankees, Grandal had three hits and launched his ninth home run of the season. His .704 OPS is his best mark in that category since 2021, but at 36, he may have difficulty finding suitors in free agency this offseason.
James Wood (WSN): 2-4, 3B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.
It’s been an encouraging rookie campaign from Wood, whom they received from the Padres in the Juan Soto trade. He is hitting .269 with a .794 OPS in 331 plate appearances and hit his ninth home run of the season on Saturday. The K rate is a bit high at 28.3%, as is the whiff rate at 29.4%. However, his hard-hit metrics are some of the most impressive in the league. Not bad for a 22-year-old in his first stint in Major League Baseball.
José Ramírez (CLE): 2-3, 2B, HR, R, 3 RBI.
It’s been another MVP-caliber season for Ramirez as he chases toward a 40-HR and 40-SB season. On Saturday, he hit his 39th home run of the year. Additionally, he already has 41 stolen bases. Will he hit No. 40 on Sunday? Baseball fans will have to wait and see, though I doubt the Guardians “rest” Ramirez in the season’s final game.
Niko Kavadas (LAA): 2-3, HR, 3 R, RBI, BB.
Kavadas’s rookie campaign has been rough. He is hitting .191 with a .642 OPS in 102 plate appearances. Whiffing and strikeouts have been his primary issues, as he has a whiff rate of 35.1% and a K rate of 39.2%. Even though he rarely chases (17.9%), those high whiff and strikeout numbers won’t cut it at the MLB level long term. He did hit his fourth home run of the season on Saturday. Maybe that can help him build the necessary confidence this offseason for an improvement in 2025.
Donovan Solano (SDP): 4-5, HR, R, 2 RBI.
Solano doesn’t have the typical profile for a corner infielder, but he produces, which is what matters most for San Diego. Solano had a four-hit day for the Padres against the Diamondbacks, which included his eighth home run of the season. His multi-hit performance also improved his average to .287 and OPS to .762. Solano will likely be in another uniform in 2025, but teams will covet his high-contact approach this offseason.
Paul Goldschmidt (STL): 3-4, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI.
In what could be Goldschmidt’s last series with St. Louis, he had a banner Saturday against the Giants with three hits and two doubles. It’s been a season of regression for Goldschmidt, as he is hitting .245 with a .713 OPS, the latter being the first time in his career that his OPS has been under .800. At 37 years old, the seven-time All-Star may call it a career, especially since his options may not be plentiful in free agency. If that’s it for Goldschmidt, he can be proud of what he did in 14 seasons with Arizona and St. Louis.