PHILADELPHIA -- As Junior Caminero held the top of his bat and walked to the home plate-shaped boxing ring at second base during the introductions for Monday's 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park, he couldn't help but grin throughout the entire 90-foot walk from first base.
“Enjoy it. Breathe. Concentrate,” Caminero said in Spanish when asked what he hopes to do when he goes up to bat. “And give the best of me.”
He certainly did, launching all 12 of his first-round home runs to left field. His longest of that round traveled a Statcast-projected 487 feet, while his two hardest-hit homers left the bat at 116 mph.
With the Derby's new format giving each participant 20 swings, Caminero had time to admire nearly every blast. Only two of his 12 home runs didn't clear the 400-foot mark. Rays Major League field coordinator Tomas Francisco, who pitched to Caminero for the second year in a row, made sure to leave cookies in the center-top of the box.
Caminero's final swing, however, was ruled a foul ball.
The 23-year-old met with Juan Soto at home plate and asked if it could be reviewed. Had it been ruled a home run, Caminero would have tied Willson Contreras -- whose longest homer traveled 490 feet -- and Jordan Walker, who each had 13 first-round home runs.
Caminero then hit five home runs in his semifinal matchup against Walker, including one 491-foot shot, but it wasn't enough to advance.
Last year, Caminero finished as the runner-up in the Derby, falling to Seattle's Cal Raleigh. After that event, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. shared some advice that stuck with him: The first Home Run Derby is for learning, the second is for winning.
“It feels spectacular to be here, I have been working a lot for this moment,” Caminero said.
Guerrero followed that path, defeating Randy Arozarena in 2023 after finishing as the runner-up in 2019. Soto also rebounded, winning the 2022 Derby after falling in the semifinals in 2021.
Caminero entered the All-Star break with 28 home runs and an average swing speed of 79.9 mph, the fastest in the league. He came up short of his first Home Run Derby title, but another impressive showing made one thing clear: It may only be a matter of time.