Tampa Bay Rays’ Junior Caminero Recovers From Back Injury, Returns to Lineup

Junior Caminero, who missed the Tampa Bay Rays' last two spring training games due to low back tightness, is returning to the lineup against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.

St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (13) celebrates after hitting a home run against the Boston Red Sox during the fourth inning at Tropicana Field. / Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Junior Caminero is back in the Tampa Bay Rays' lineup for Sunday's spring training showdown against the Toronto Blue Jays, per FanDuel Sports Network's Ryan Bass.

The 21-year-old infielder last took the field Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies. He left that contest in the fourth inning, exiting with low back tightness.

Manager Kevin Cash labeled Caminero as day-to-day after that game, according to the Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin, and did not expect him to miss much time. He was absent from Tampa Bay's lineup for two days, missing games against the Minnesota Twins and Baltimore Orioles.

Caminero will bat third and start at third base on Sunday.

Caminero is batting .211 with three home runs, one triple, eight RBIs and a 1.075 OPS through eight Grapefruit League appearances.

Prior to the 2024 season, Caminero was viewed as a consensus top-five prospect in baseball. He proceeded to hit .249 with six home runs, nine doubles, 18 RBIs, a .724 OPS and a 0.7 WAR in 43 games, exhausting his rookie eligibility in the process.

Caminero hit .424 with a 1.003 OPS in the Dominican Winter League this past offseason, going viral for his clutch home run and ensuing bat flip in Game 7 of the championship series.

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