When a 97.6-mph sinker struck Junior Caminero’s left pinkie in the third inning Tuesday night, the result of the All-Star Game suddenly meant very little in Tampa Bay.
Caminero dropped beside home plate at Citizens Bank Park and pulled his injured hand toward his body. He stayed on the dirt for several tense seconds before getting up and leaving for the American League dugout. Miguel Vargas entered as a pinch runner and replaced him at third base.
The immediate fear was a fracture. Ballpark X-rays came back negative, leaving Caminero with a sore but unbroken hand. He said he expected to play Friday when the Rays begin their second-half schedule against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Vargas later homered in the eighth inning as the American League completed a 4-0 victory. Cody Bellinger earned MVP honors after driving in two runs, while 11 AL pitchers combined to hold the National League to three hits.
A Brilliant All-Star Week Nearly Ended With a Fracture
The injury scare came less than 24 hours after Caminero produced the longest home run of the Home Run Derby.
His 491-foot drive to left-center towered over every other swing in the competition. Caminero reached the semifinals before eventual champion Jordan Walker eliminated him. One night later, his second All-Star appearance ended with a pitch against his hand.
The timing made the sight even harder for the Rays to absorb.
Caminero entered the break with 28 home runs and 59 RBIs across 94 games. The 23-year-old was batting .279 with a .372 on-base percentage and a .555 slugging percentage. Those numbers made him far more than Tampa Bay’s representative at a showcase event. He had become the central power source in a lineup preparing for a pennant race.
For several minutes, none of those numbers mattered. Caminero could only wait for the scans and wonder whether one missed pitch had damaged his second half.
Speaking through an interpreter after the game, Caminero said, “I honestly thought something might have been broken, but thank God that everything’s fine.”
Negative X-Rays Do Not Remove Every Concern
The initial diagnosis spared Tampa Bay from the worst outcome. It did not guarantee that Caminero would feel normal when he returned to the batter’s box.
Caminero bats right-handed, placing his left hand at the bottom of the handle. His injured pinkie sits close to the knob and absorbs pressure as he accelerates the bat through the hitting zone.
Even without a fracture, swelling or bruising can weaken a hitter’s grip. Hard contact may send a sharp vibration through the hand. Turning quickly on an inside fastball can become uncomfortable because the bottom hand helps control the barrel through the swing.
The first real test will come when Caminero picks up a bat. Pregame swings can reveal whether he can finish his follow-through without protecting the finger or loosening his grip.
Live pitching will provide the next answer. A hitter can feel comfortable during soft toss and still react differently when another fastball approaches the inner half.
Tampa Bay had not announced additional imaging after the initial ballpark X-rays. Caminero remained optimistic, but the Rays will need to examine his hand and watch him swing before clearing him for Friday.
O’Brien Crossed Clubhouses to Apologize
Riley O’Brien did not treat the incident casually.
After leaving the game, the St. Louis Cardinals reliever entered the American League clubhouse to check on Caminero and apologize. The sinker had tailed too far inside, and O’Brien’s reaction on the mound reflected immediate concern.
Caminero accepted the apology and told him that such pitches were part of baseball. There was no confrontation and no suggestion that O’Brien intended to hit him. A hard sinker escaped toward his arm side and struck a hitter in one of the most vulnerable areas.
The conversation closed the door on any lingering dispute. O’Brien acknowledged the mistake. Caminero understood it. Both players could then focus on the only issue that mattered: the condition of his hand.
Fenway Will Provide the Real Answer
Caminero believes he will be available when Tampa Bay resumes play in Boston. His confidence is encouraging, but the Rays have little reason to rush their most dangerous power hitter back into the lineup.
A bruised hand can improve quickly. It can also tighten overnight or become more painful once a hitter begins taking full swings.
Friday’s pregame work will therefore carry more weight than the first medical update. Tampa Bay must see whether Caminero can grip the bat firmly, drive the barrel through the zone and react naturally to inside velocity.
The Rays escaped the broken bone they feared when Caminero fell beside home plate. Nobody in Tampa Bay will completely exhale until he takes his first hard swing at Fenway and returns to the dugout without checking his left hand.
READ ALSO: Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski rests, but his Charizard glove steals the All-Star spotlight
FAQs
Did Junior Caminero break his hand in the All-Star Game?
No. Ballpark X-rays came back negative, and the Rays listed Caminero as day to day.
What pitch hit Junior Caminero?
Riley O’Brien hit Caminero’s left pinkie with a 97.6-mph sinker in the third inning.
Will Junior Caminero play against the Red Sox?
Caminero expects to play Friday at Fenway Park. The Rays will first see how his hand responds when he swings.
How far was Junior Caminero’s Home Run Derby homer?
Caminero hit a 491-foot home run, the longest drive of the 2026 Home Run Derby.
Did Riley O’Brien apologize to Junior Caminero?
Yes. O’Brien visited Caminero in the American League clubhouse, apologized and checked on his condition.
