Photo Credit: MARCA
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Junior Caminero has quickly become one of baseball’s most dangerous young hitters. The Tampa Bay Rays star already possesses extraordinary natural power. However, Albert Pujols helped him refine that power into something special. Caminero entered 2026 after a breakout 2025 season. He crushed 45 home runs during his first full MLB season.
That total ranked among the best young seasons in baseball history. It also placed him alongside some legendary Dominican hitters. Now, Caminero has taken another major step forward. His improved approach has helped him become a more complete hitter. Pujols played an important role in that development.
Pujols Gave Caminero a Simple Lesson
He managed Caminero with Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Winter League. The two later worked together with the Dominican Republic’s WBC team. Those experiences gave Caminero access to one of baseball’s greatest hitters. Pujols did not ask Caminero to completely rebuild his swing. Instead, he encouraged Caminero to stay level with the pitch.
That small adjustment helped unlock even more of Caminero’s power. Caminero explained the lesson during an MLB interview. Pujols told him to get level with the pitch. The goal involved elevating the ball without popping it up. That approach now plays a major role in Caminero’s swing. The advice sounds simple, but execution makes it difficult. Caminero already possessed elite bat speed before that instruction. Pujols helped him use that speed more efficiently.
Caminero Has Baseball’s Fastest Swing
MLB’s Statcast data shows just how unusual Caminero’s swing has become. His average bat speed reached 79.9 mph earlier this season. That figure ranked first among qualified MLB hitters. His swing path also stood out from everyone else. Caminero’s vertical swing tilt measured only 22 degrees. That mark ranked as the flattest among qualified major league hitters. Those numbers explain much of Caminero’s extraordinary power. He combines elite bat speed with an unusually level swing. That combination allows him to attack pitches across the zone. Most importantly, Caminero understands why the approach works. He wants his barrel to meet the ball squarely. He also wants to avoid getting underneath pitches. That philosophy directly connects to Pujols’ advice.
The High Fastball Has Become a Weapon
Caminero’s level swing gives him another major advantage. He can attack high fastballs that often challenge other power hitters. Earlier this season, he already had four homers against high fastballs. Those pitches reached the upper edge of the strike zone. That total led all MLB hitters at that point. One homer demonstrated the approach perfectly. Caminero crushed a 98-mph fastball from Taj Bradley. The ball traveled 450 feet to dead center. It also left his bat at 111 mph. That combination represents Caminero at his best. He sees the pitch, stays level, and unleashes his bat speed. Pujols recognized that potential early.
Caminero Has More Than Just Power
The biggest change involves more than home runs. Caminero has become a more adaptable hitter overall. Flat swings can create problems against certain pitches. Breaking balls and sinkers can produce more ground balls. Caminero experienced that problem during the 2025 season. He led MLB with 31 double plays last year. That number showed the downside of his aggressive approach. However, Caminero adjusted as the season continued. He learned to handle different pitch types and locations better. Since the beginning of 2025, he has crushed breaking pitches. He has also punished off-speed pitches with regularity. His production against those pitches ranks among MLB’s best. That adaptability separates Caminero from one-dimensional sluggers.
The Numbers Show His Development
Caminero’s 2026 numbers continue to reinforce his growth. Through the latest available statistics, he has hit 30 home runs. He also owns a .282 batting average and .373 on-base percentage. His slugging percentage sits at .544 in those figures. He has also collected 66 RBIs and 60 walks. Those walks matter because they show improved plate discipline. Caminero is not simply hunting pitches to hit home runs. He also entered August as one of MLB’s elite young sluggers. The Rays have relied heavily on his production throughout 2026. His growth has also drawn attention from ESPN’s MLB rankings. The outlet recently placed Caminero seventh among baseball’s top players.
That ranking shows how quickly his reputation has changed. His 2025 Season Set the Foundation Caminero’s development did not begin with Pujols. The Rays already saw superstar potential when they acquired him. His first full MLB season confirmed those expectations. Caminero hit 45 home runs during the 2025 campaign. That performance placed him among baseball’s most productive young hitters. Pujols also recognized Caminero’s enormous potential during the WBC. He praised Caminero’s fearlessness and willingness to improve. That confidence matters for a player just entering his prime.
Caminero turned 23 in July and continues learning every season. He now combines youth with increasingly refined hitting skills. Pujols’ Influence Goes Beyond One Swing Pujols did not create Caminero’s power. Caminero entered professional baseball with extraordinary natural ability. Instead, Pujols helped him understand how to maximize that ability. The lesson focused on timing, swing path, and contact quality. That distinction matters when discussing Caminero’s rise. The Rays developed him into an everyday major league star. Pujols provided another influential voice along the way. Caminero also continues learning from other baseball figures. He has looked to Manny Machado for advice about playing third base. He has also worked extensively on improving his defense. That willingness to learn could make him even more dangerous.
The Rays Have a Superstar
Tampa Bay now has one of baseball’s most exciting young hitters. Caminero combines elite power with impressive bat speed. He also continues improving his overall approach. Pujols’ influence provides an important piece of that story. His advice helped Caminero understand how to stay level. That adjustment helped turn elite power into consistent production. The results speak loudly. Caminero has already established himself among MLB’s best young hitters. Now, he appears ready to chase something even bigger. An MVP award could eventually become a realistic target. So could several All-Star appearances and record-breaking seasons. For now, Caminero remains focused on getting better. And perhaps that remains the most important part of Pujols’ influence. One of baseball’s greatest hitters helped another learn the craft. Caminero has taken that lesson and turned it into thunder.
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker (VP) and Head of our Florida operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a host on The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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