Junior Caminero injury update: Latest news on Rays star who left All-Star Game after taking pitch off the hand

By | July 14, 2026
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The first half was a dream for the Rays, who jumped out to the AL East lead and saw young first baseman Junior Caminero emerge as an MVP candidate.

The second half could be starting off on the wrong foot — or hand, in this case.

Caminero left the All-Star Game on Tuesday after taking a pitch off his hand, going down in pain before jogging back to the clubhouse.

Here’s the latest on Caminero’s status.

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Junior Caminero injury update

Caminero went down in a heap at the All-Star game, after taking a pitch off from Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien off his hand.

While he was able to run off the field himself, Caminero underwent X-rays on his hand. Fortunately, X-rays came back negative, allowing him and the Rays to breathe a sigh of relief. 

Caminero is batting .279 with 28 home runs and a .927 OPS through 94 games this season, with 13 home runs in his last 19 games before the All-Star break. Even if he’s in some pain in the days ahead, he doesn’t figure to miss much time, if any, with no fracture in his hand.

What happened to Junior Caminero?

Caminero was hit by a pitch from Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien in the third inning of the All-Star Game on Tuesday and immediately went down in pain. He was replaced on the basepaths by Miguel Vargas and went back inside for X-rays.

Fortunately, X-rays came back negative for any fractures.

Who hit Junior Caminero?

The Rays slugger was hit by a pitch from Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien, who was making his first career All-Star appearance.

The 31-year-old O’Brien emerged as a late-inning reliever last season and is St. Louis’ full-time closer for the first time this season, carrying a 3.43 ERA and 24 saves through 39 appearances. O’Brien was also set to pitch for South Korea in the World Baseball Classic before an injury forced him off the roster.

Junior Caminero 2026 stats

Games AVG HR RBI H OPS
94 .279 28 59 99 .927

Caminero entered the All-Star break on a heater, having hit 13 home runs in his last 19 games. He’s batting .279 with 28 home runs and a .927 OPS, closing in on 100 hits. With Aaron Judge out of the AL MVP race due to the time he’s missed, Caminero is a contender along with Yordan Alvarez and Bobby Witt Jr. 

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