Updated

Updated · Fox News · Sep 16

Junior Caminero Hits 41st Homer for Rays' 91st Win, Sealing 2-1 Walk-Off Over A's

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Sep 16

Junior Caminero Hits 41st Homer for Rays' 91st Win, Sealing 2-1 Walk-Off Over A's

Q: What secret adjustment allowed an overlooked rookie to suddenly challenge the presumed favorite for the AL MVP crown?

The key adjustment was not a secret mechanical overhaul so much as a quieter change in approach: Junior Caminero became markedly more selective at the plate, stopped expanding the strike zone as often, and paired that discipline with a slightly more open stance that helped him get to pitches more cleanly. That change shows up in the numbers. Reports around the Rays note that pitchers have been avoiding the zone against Caminero, yet instead of chasing, he has improved his walk rate and cut his swinging-strike rate. His swing-and-miss rate dropped significantly from last season, while his on-base percentage and OPS climbed. In practical terms, he is no longer just a young slugger hunting home runs; he is forcing pitchers into mistakes and doing damage when they finally challenge him. The mechanical piece appears to be subtle but important. MLB Network analysis pointed to Caminero “opening up his stance more” during his hot stretch, and broader Statcast-based coverage has emphasized how his elite bat speed and unusually level swing path let him cover more of the zone. That combination helps explain why he can punish pitches in different locations and in high-leverage spots. So the answer is that Caminero’s MVP push has been driven by improved plate discipline, reinforced by a small stance adjustment that unlocked his already elite bat speed and made him a more complete, dangerous hitter. That is what turned an exciting young star into Yordan Alvarez’s clearest challenger.

Q: Could a controversial 40-second home run trot actually cost this rookie sensation the MVP award by violating baseball's unwritten rules?

Probably not. A 40-second home run trot may spark debate inside baseball, but it is very unlikely to decide the American League MVP vote on its own. MVP voting is done by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, and those ballots overwhelmingly track season-long value: production, durability, team context and narrative. On that front, Caminero’s case is strong. He has 41 home runs, 96 RBIs, a near-.900 OPS, multiple walk-off homers in a playoff race, and he is the offensive centerpiece of a Rays team closing in on the AL East. The bigger obstacle is not etiquette but competition. Yordan Alvarez remains the favorite because his offensive numbers are still superior in key categories, including batting average, on-base percentage, slugging and OPS, and recent MVP polling still had him well ahead. Caminero’s late surge has clearly narrowed the race, but the numbers against Alvarez matter far more than one celebratory trot. The trot could matter only at the margins if a voter already viewed Caminero and Alvarez as essentially even and chose to penalize what he considered showboating. Baseball’s unwritten rules still influence some players, former players and parts of the culture. But modern MLB is much more tolerant of emotion and celebration than in past decades, and walk-off moments especially are often treated differently. So the real risk to Caminero’s MVP chances is not backlash over style. It is whether his final statistical résumé catches Alvarez’s.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 16

Junior Caminero lifted Tampa Bay to a 2-1 win over the Athletics with a ninth-inning solo shot wrapped around the right-field foul pole — his second walk-off homer in five days.
The 23-year-old's 41st home run added to an AL MVP-caliber season: a .279 average, 96 RBI and an OPS near .900.
A home-run trot that stretched past 40 seconds became the night's other headline, drawing heavy reaction on social media after teammates greeted him well before home plate.
That celebration did not violate MLB rules, even though college baseball bars offensive players other than base coaches from touching the batter-runner before he scores.
The victory gave the playoff-bound Rays their 91st win and left them closing in on the AL East title.