Tampa Bay Rays slugger Junior Caminero was forced to exit the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday night after taking a tailing sinker off his left hand in the third inning. The pitch came from St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Riley O’Brien on a 1-0 count.
The impact dropped Caminero to the ground immediately, though he was able to get back on his feet and make his way off the field under his own power, heading into the American League dugout. Chicago White Sox infielder Miguel Vargas entered the game as a pinch runner in his place.
Caminero underwent X-rays following the incident, and according to the Fox broadcast, the results came back negative — meaning no fracture was detected.
The 23-year-old was appearing in his second All-Star Game and has been one of the standout performers in the major leagues this season. Through 94 games with Tampa Bay, he has clubbed 28 home runs, driven in 59 runs, and is hitting .279 with an on-base percentage of .372 and a slugging percentage of .555.
Just the night before, Caminero competed in the Home Run Derby, advancing all the way to the semifinals before being eliminated by eventual champion Jordan Walker of the Cardinals. During the competition, Caminero launched the longest home run of the entire event — a massive 491-foot shot to left-center field.
