Junior Caminero Named Baseball's Second-Best Hitter in MLB Power Rankings

The Tampa Bay Rays have a bright future ahead, led by one of the best hitters in baseball. 

Junior Caminero is off to a great start to his season. Heading into Thursday’s series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays, he has 29 home runs on the season and is firmly in the race for American League MVP. Not only has he become one of the most exciting players in the sport, but also one of the most consistent when it comes to his ability to show off his power. 

He was rewarded for that on Thursday when MLB.com released its Hitter Power Rankings and Caminero was listed as the second best in baseball. The Rays slugger was only behind Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez, who is having yet another brilliant season at the plate.  

“Caminero is one big threat to Alvarez, both in these rankings and for that Triple Crown. It’s hard to believe Caminero is just 23, because he’s already one of the most fearsome power hitters in the sport. Caminero ranks in the 100th percentile of Major League hitters in bat speed, 93rd percentile in hard-hit rate and 94th percentile in expected slugging. That’s no surprise to anyone who watched him in last week’s T-Mobile Home Run Derby.”

Caminero is on pace for another 45 home run season, something he did in 2025 during his first full season in the big leagues. At only 23 years old, it is likely that the Tampa Bay third baseman, who just finished his 2nd straight All-Star appearance, will reach 100 homers before the season has come to an end. 

He may not be the fastest ever to do it, as Ryan Howard reached the century mark in only 325 career games, just 20 more than Camierno is currently at, but if he did it before the season is complete, he would be no worse than 5th fastest all time. 

Two other names listed as honorable mentions on this list are Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman and San Francisco Giants second baseman Luis Arraez, both players who have been recently discussed as potential trade targets for the Rays before the August 3rd MLB Trade Deadline.