Junior Caminero named 2025 All-Star, elects to join Home Run Derby
Rays 22-year old star third baseman Junior Caminero has been selected as an injury replacement for the 2025 All-Star Game, filling in for Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman.
In doing so, Caminero has also accepted an invitation to participate in the 2025 Home Run Derby.
Junior Caminero announced on Instagram that he’s joined the field for the @TMobile #HRDerby!
— MLB (@MLB) July 9, 2025
Caminero leads American League 3B with 21 home runs. pic.twitter.com/JYfITRlsCY
The derby will be held on July 14, 2025, at Truist Park in Atlanta, the site of the 2025 MLB All-Star Game. It will air on ESPN for the 31st and final time. The participants include:
- Ronald Acuña Jr. - Atlanta Braves
- Byron Buxton - Minnesota Twins
- Junior Caminero - Tampa Bay Rays
- Oneil Cruz - Pittsburgh Pirates
- Cal Raleigh - Seattle Mariners
- James Wood - Washington Nationals
Two open slots remain for the eight participant event.
Junior Caminero just turned 22-years old a few days ago and currently leads the Rays in homeruns and slugging percentage. Thus far in 2025, Caminero is hitting .252/.294/.496 with 21 HR, registering a 116 wRC+ over 364 PA.
Previous Rays participants in the Home Run Derby include the team’s previous star third baseman who broke out in his debut season in Evan Longoria (2008 - 3 home runs), Carlos Pena (2009 - 5 home runs), and Randy Arozarena (2023 - 82 homeruns).
Arozarena, you might recall, put up the second most home runs ever hit in the event, but placed second to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the final round (25-23). Neither batter returned for the 2024 event, which was won by Teoscar Hernandez of the Dodgers with 49 homeruns.