Junior Caminero rubbed Guardians' mistake in their faces with unbelievable WBC debut

While the World Baseball Classic doesn’t officially start until tonight’s game between Australia and Chinese Taipei, we’ve been getting a steady drip of WBC action over the past week thanks to every team in the tournament scrimmaging against various pro teams as exhibition warm ups before the tournament. 

But you’d be forgiven for thinking that the Dominican Republic’s scrimmage against the Tigers on Tuesday was Game 7 of the World given the raucous environment at Quisqueya Juan Marichal Stadium in Santo Domingo. 

And part of the reason it was such a part in Santo Domingo was due to third baseman Junior Caminero, who went 4-for-4 in the middle of the DR’s lineup. And if that wasn’t enough, all of Caminero’s hits had an exit velocity of 107+ miles per hour.

And although Camerino’s strong showing came in an exhibition, it was another example of a crazy game from him that Guardians fans had to watch through their fingers. 

Former Guardians’ prospect Junior Caminero is set for star turn at 2026 WBC 

In 2021, the Guardians traded Caminero to the Tampa Bay Rays after the 2021 season in exchange for Tobias Myers. It’s one of the worst trades in modern baseball history. 

Cleveland ended up cutting Myers less than eight months after making the deal, while Caminero grew to be baseball’s top prospect and has since evolved into one of the sport’s best sluggers. 

His home run against the Tigers on Tuesday was the perfect example of just how good he can be. 

Quisqueya Juan Marichal Stadium was already buzzing when he stepped to the plate in the fourth inning thanks to Juan Soto and Manny Machado’s home runs, and he sent the 13,186 fans in attendance into a frenzy with a 107.8 mph opposite field home run on one of the prettiest swings you’ll ever see. 

Caminero truly announced his presence last season with an All-Star campaign where he mashed 45 home runs (two of which came in one game against the Guardians) to go along with 110 RBI. While José Ramírez beat him out for the American League Silver Slugger, Caminero has become a bonafide star. At this point, the only reason he isn’t a true household name is because he plays in Tampa Bay. 

Although there’s the obvious argument to be made about whether Caminero would be the same kind of player he is now had he stuck in Cleveland (and the obvious question about where he’d play thanks to Ramírez being entrenched at third), it doesn’t take away from the fact the Guardians got nothing for him. 

Heck, even Myers put together a solid season with the Brewers after the Guardians cut him loose. 

The Dominican Republic’s lineup looked unbeatable against Detroit on Tuesday, and Caminero was a big reason for that. Chances are this won’t be the last time he authors a signature moment while wearing his country’s jersey.