Rays star Junior Caminero leaves MLB All-Star Game after left hand gets hit by 98-mph pitch
Tampa Bay Rays star third baseman Junior Caminero left the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday due to a potentially consequential hand injury.
Caminero left the game in the top of the third inning after being hit by a pitch.
St. Louis Cardinals reliever Riley O'Brien threw a high and inside sinker that connected with Caminero's left pinky. The 23-year-old immediately dropped to the ground, clutching his hand.
Junior Caminero was slow to get up and left the game after being hit by this pitch. pic.twitter.com/0pwJZu1kNv
ā FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 15, 2026
Junior Caminero was slow to get up and left the game after being hit by this pitch. pic.twitter.com/0pwJZu1kNv
ā FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 15, 2026
After collecting himself for a moment, Caminero headed to the dugout and exited the game. Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas replaced him as a pinch runner and at third.
Caminero immediately went to get X-rays with a Philadelphia Phillies doctor inside Citizens Bank Park, per The Athletic's Matt Gelb.
The broadcast later reported that the X-rays came back negative. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reported that Caminero is day-to-day. But Caminero reportedly said he is fine and expects to play when the season resumes Friday.
Junior Caminero: : Iām fine. Thank God nothing is broken. Will play Friday https://t.co/jTCSEmqDZB
ā Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 15, 2026
In his first at-bat in the first inning, Caminero grounded out but advanced two American League runners. The AL went on to score three runs in the frame to put take an early lead that was never really threatened in its 4-0 victory.