This story was excerpted from Adam Berry’s Rays Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
ST. PETERSBURG — Top prospect Junior Caminero has the kind of bat speed and raw power that can make you say “Wow.” Watching him bash balls off the upper-deck facade in Toronto late last season, or seeing some of the home runs he’s sent into orbit in the Minor Leagues, the more appropriate response might be, “How?”
Now, it seems the most-asked question about Caminero is: “When?” As in, when will the Rays promote MLB Pipeline’s No. 3 prospect to help boost an inconsistent lineup in desperate need of more power?
The answer: Not yet.
“Just continuing to better organize at-bats and to increase his proficiency in the field. He’s 20 years old. Couldn’t be more excited about him,” president of baseball operations Erik Neander said. “Just want to make sure that these things are in order, to a reasonable degree, before you consider putting him into the Major League mix. It’s no secret that young players in their first taste will often find it far more challenging than you think it will be.”
