Rays to call up top prospect Junior Caminero
Sept. 22 (UPI) -- The Tampa Bay Rays will promote top prospect Junior Caminero to their big-league roster, adding talent to an already hot-hitting lineup.
Caminero's minor league team, the Montgomery Biscuits, confirmed the move Thursday night. Caminero hit .309 with 20 home runs and 62 RBIs through 81 games this season for the Rays' Double-A affiliate.
Caminero was the No. 6 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. The third baseman/shortstop also hit .356 with 11 home runs and 32 RBIs through 36 games this year for the Bowling Green Hot Rods, the Rays' Advanced-A affiliate.
The Santo Domingo, D.R., native hit .316 with 51 home runs and 178 RBIs in 223 total minor league appearances since 2021.
His move to the Rays comes amid multiple investigations into star shortstop Wander Franco, who remains on administrative leave. Taylor Walls, Osleivis Basabe, Tristan Gray have rotated in at shortstop amid Franco's hiatus. The Rays have used Isaac Paredes, Curtis Mead and Jonathan Aranda at third base.
The Rays (94-60) will host the Toronto Blue Jays (85-68) at 6:40 p.m. EDT Friday in St. Petersburg, Fla. They are 1 1/2 games behind the first-place Baltimore Orioles (95-58) in the American League East, but hold the top wild card playoff spot.
