The Tampa Bay Rays have already clinched their spot in the 2023 MLB postseason.
The only thing left to determine is whether Tampa will win the AL East for the third time in four seasons, or if they’ll remain where they currently are, atop the AL Wild Card standings.
The Rays are just a game and a half behind the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the AL East as the season enters its final stretch, and they’ll be adding some firepower to try and get past the O’s.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Thursday night that the Rays are calling up their top prospect, Junior Caminero, from AA.
BREAKING: The Tampa Bay Rays are calling up top infield prospect Junior Caminero, sources tell ESPN. Caminero, 20, will make the leap from AA, where he was hitting .309/.373/.548 with 20 HR in 314 ABs.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 22, 2023
In 314 at-bats at the AA level, Caminero is hitting .309 with 20 home runs. He has mostly played third base this season but is able to play shortstop, as well. He’s the No. 6 MLB prospect according to MLB.com.
With shortstop Wander Franco on indefinite administrative leave, as he has been since mid-August, Tampa has chosen to be aggressive with Caminero.
Assuming Caminero is with the Rays in the playoffs, it wouldn’t be the first time they’ve put a player with less than a month of experience on the playoff roster. In September 2008, Tampa Bay called up top pitching prospect David Price. He would go on to make five appearances in the playoffs, striking out nine batters and recording the win in Tampa’s game two ALCS win over the Boston Red Sox. Price also recorded the save in Game 7 of the series.
