Whew, what a scare at the All-Star Game on Tuesday, but the baseball world just exhaled a collective sigh of relief. Rays young gun and legitimate MVP candidate, Junior Caminero, left the game after taking a pitch straight off his hand. But the big news is, his X-rays came back negative for any fractures, meaning his incredible season and MVP push aren't going to be derailed by a broken bone.
The All-Star Game Scare
Man, you hate to see it. It happened in the third inning, with Cardinals closer Riley O'Brien on the mound. Caminero got plunked right on the hand and went down in a heap, clearly in pain. He was slow to get up and jogged straight back to the clubhouse for immediate X-rays. Seeing a guy who's been crushing it all season, an MVP candidate no less, get hit like that in an All-Star showcase? It's the kind of moment that makes you hold your breath. Miguel Vargas came in to replace him on the basepaths. Everyone was just waiting for news, thinking the worst for a guy who's been absolutely lighting it up.Why This Matters HUGE for the Rays and the MVP Race
This is massive for the Rays, whose first half was nothing short of a dream. They’ve been leading the AL East, and Caminero has been a massive part of that success, emerging as a true MVP contender. Think about it: the dude is batting .279 with 28 home runs and a .927 OPS through just 94 games this season. Even wilder? He smashed 13 dingers in his last 19 games before the All-Star break! He's closing in on 100 hits. With Aaron Judge out of the AL MVP race due to missed time, Caminero is right there in the conversation with Yordan Alvarez and Bobby Witt Jr. A fracture would have shattered that dream for him and the Rays. O'Brien, by the way, was making his first career All-Star appearance, a 31-year-old making his mark as St. Louis' full-time closer with a 3.43 ERA and 24 saves in 39 appearances. What an unfortunate way to remember your first Midsummer Classic. Fortunately, those negative X-rays mean Caminero shouldn't miss much time, if any at all. The Rays can breathe easy, knowing their young slugger will be back in the lineup, continuing his incredible season. We're all looking forward to seeing him back on the field, absolutely raking and making his case for that MVP trophy!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.