How Albert Pujols helped Rays' Junior Caminero become one of MLB's top hitters

The Tampa Bay Rays have a six-game lead in the American League East standings, and third baseman Junior Caminero is a significant reason why. Caminero is just 23 years old and is already one of the top hitters in the Majors. He was named to his second consecutive All-Star Game after a stellar performance at the World Baseball Classic with the Dominican Republic. The D.R.'s manager, Albert Pujols, has become a mentor for Tampa Bay's young slugger. Pujols is a major reason why Caminero was ranked as ESPN's seventh-best player in baseball in 2026. Pujols has helped Caminero become a more well-rounded hitter at the plate "Caminero's rise in becoming one of baseball's premier power hitters continues this year, through a test of plate discipline," ESPN's Buster Olney wrote. "Mentor Albert Pujols