Officially, the American League was victorious at Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia, but it was Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero who felt like the real winner after avoiding serious injury.
The 23-year-old slugger took a 98mph sinker from St. Louis Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien off his left hand in the top of the third inning, leading to a moment of panic at Citizens Bank Park, not to mention the Rays fans watching at home.
While Caminero was writhing in pain in the dirt, American League manager John Schneider quickly called for Chicago White Sox star Miguel Vargas to pinch run and fill in at third. Caminero was then taken back to the clubhouse for X-rays, which were negative.
‘You are thinking the worst and honestly thought something may have been broken,’ Caminero said through a translator. ‘But thank you to God, it´s fine and just a little bit sore. But we´re all good.
‘Sinker on hands that didn´t hit my bat at all,’ Caminero continued. ‘So look, it was a scary moment. But you know right now, we feel really good.’
O’Brien would later check in on Caminero in the AL clubhouse.
Junior Caminero takes a 98mph sinker off his hand during the third inning on Tuesday
Caminero comes crashing down in the batter’s box after taking a pitch off his hand
Junior Caminero reacts and clenches his hand after being hit by a 98mph slider
‘I told [Riley]I really appreciate the gesture,’ Caminero said. ‘He came into the clubhouse, and he took a few seconds to apologize, but I told him it was part of the game. He was really worried, but I told him look, these things happen. We are here to have fun, and we are here to enjoy the night.’
In the end, the AL would take the 4-0 win, thanks to a solo home run from Vargas, not to mention two RBIs from Yankees slugger Cody Bellinger and another from his teammate Ben Rice.
Thanks in large part to Caminero, who bashed 28 home runs over the first half of the season, the Rays are currently in first place in the American League East – three games ahead of the Yankees. They will be back in action on Saturday when they host another division rival, the Boston Red Sox.
Caminero’s frightening moment was reminiscent of the 1993 All-Star Game,when Phillies first baseman John Kruk nearly took a fastball to the head from Mariners ace Randy Johnson
Caminero’s frightening moment was reminiscent of the 1993 All-Star Game in nearby Baltimore, where Phillies first baseman John Kruk nearly took a fastball to the head from Seattle Mariners flamethrower Randy Johnson.
The errant pitch actually flew directly over Kruk’s helmet, leading the famously funny Phillies slugger to nervously catch his breath outside of the batter’s box. Kruk would milk the moment for all it was worth before flailing at an outside pitch for the third strike of his at-bat.
‘At first, I thought all I want to do is make contact, but after the first pitch all I wanted was to live,’ Kruk would later tell reporters. ‘And I lived. So I had a good at bat.’
