Junior Caminero injury update: Rays 3B fouls ball off his face

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero left his team's April 28 game against the Cleveland Guardians after fouling a ball off his face.

Caminero looked to be in considerable pain after taking the hit on the jaw in the of the first inning but continued with his at bat. Caminero grounded out to Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee, who threw him out at first. Caminero immediately retreated to the clubhouse after the putout. When the Rays took the field for the bottom of the first, Caminero was replaced at third base by second baseman Richie Palacios. Ben Williamson entered the game to play second.

Caminero, a first-time All-Star selection in 2025, is hitting .257 with 8 home runs and 15 runs batted in. In his breakout 2025 season – his first full major-league campaign – Caminero hit 45 home runs with 110 RBIs, leading the team in both categories.

The Rays-Guardians April 28 game also is notable for the major-league debut of Travis Bazzana, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. Bazzana's callup comes as Cleveland looks to boost a struggling offense. The Guardians have lost three consecutive games, including a 3-2 defeat to the Rays in the series opener on Monday, April 27.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Junior Caminero leaves Rays-Guardians game after fouling ball off face