Tampa Bay Rays’ Junior Caminero Shares Insights on Being a Father to Daughters
Whenever Junior Caminero, the third baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays, steps onto the field on game day, his thoughts drift to his daughter.
“My family means everything to me,” Caminero, 23, revealed exclusively to Us on Wednesday, September 30, as he celebrated his achievement as the 2026 MLB Baja Blast Champion. “On Father’s Day, I wore cleats featuring [a photo of] my daughter because my family is my everything. I want to honor that.”
In November 2025, Caminero and his wife, Francesca, became parents to a daughter named Valentina. Although he prefers to keep his personal life under wraps, the MLB player previously attended an MLB All-Star event in July alongside his family.
“She is my support every single day,” Caminero shared, speaking about his daughter. “She’s still too young to understand baseball right now. … When I get home, we have a room for her, and we enjoy playing with the ball together. That’s the best part.”
He added, “As she grows older … that will be a truly special moment.”
For now, Caminero is concentrating on the MLB playoffs, with his team set to face the New York Yankees starting Saturday, October 3.
Throughout the season, the Dominican Republic native has felt an outpouring of support from Tampa Bay and his teammates as he achieved career milestones, including hitting 21 home runs over 420 feet.
Baja Blast, the official soft drink of the MLB, recently surprised Caminero with a custom champion box commemorating the impressive hits that earned him the title of MLB Baja Blast Champion.
During the MLB postseason and World Series, every home run over 420 feet will unlock complimentary Baja Blasts for fans across the nation.
“The fans are incredible. I want to express my gratitude to them, especially for allowing us to return to Tropicana Field and feeling their presence every day,” Caminero stated. “Thank you for your support each and every day. We need to make sure all the fans can celebrate with us here.”
Win or lose, the MLB All-Star player feels fortunate to have experienced another season doing what he loves alongside teammates he describes as a “fantastic group.”
“For me, baseball is everything, my life. It’s a dream come true,” Caminero reflected. “As a child, I dreamt of this. Now everyone knows me, and I’m grateful for the hard work I’ve put in daily. I play for the best team in the American League at this moment. That has always been my aspiration.”
