ORLANDO, Fla. -- One way or another, Junior Caminero was going to the 2026 World Baseball Classic to represent his native Dominican Republic.
Caminero said in late September that if he wasn’t invited to join the roster, he would show up to cheer on his country as a fan. Instead, he’ll be suiting up for his home country in the World Baseball Classic for the first time.
On Monday, Dominican Republic manager Albert Pujols announced that Caminero will be a part of the Dominican team in the 2026 WBC. Already one of baseball’s most prolific young sluggers and a rising star for the Rays, Caminero will now have a chance to shine on the international stage.
The 22-year-old third baseman has previously played for Pujols, as the three-time National League MVP is the manager for Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Winter League. Caminero joined the club last offseason and put together a dominant postseason run capped by his championship-winning home run and epic home run trot.
He maintained that momentum throughout his first full season in the Majors, launching 45 homers -- second-most in a season in franchise history and sixth-most in the Majors this year -- while driving in 110 runs.
“To be able to have him as a player, as a manager, was a blessing. Obviously, he helped us win a championship,” Pujols said Tuesday at the Winter Meetings. “To be able to see him perform the way that he did, it was pretty unbelievable. So I'm pretty excited that he gets a chance to be on this team, and knowing him, he's going to do the best that he can to try to help us win a championship and to try to win that World Baseball Classic.”
Caminero is joining a star-studded squad that will challenge for its second World Baseball Classic championship. The Dominican Republic team won the 2013 WBC, beating Puerto Rico, 3-0, in the final game.
In 2023, the nation finished third in Pool D behind Venezuela and Puerto Rico and did not qualify for the quarterfinals despite a roster including Juan Soto, Julio Rodríguez, Rafael Devers, Manny Machado and Sandy Alcantara.
Caminero, born in the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo, was ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 6 overall prospect when he was first called up to the Majors in September 2023. He broke out with an impressive 2025, leading the team in FanGraphs Wins Above Replacement and finishing ninth in the American League MVP voting.
“He was incredible. Exceeded every expectation you could ever ask of a 22-year-old player,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said Monday. “I have seen him this offseason. His work ethic is off the charts. His care to be a good teammate, off the charts. And he can really hit.”
Caminero will be tuning up for the WBC in his own hometown: he and the Dominican national team are set to face the Tigers for two games on March 3-4 at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal in Santo Domingo. Pool play for the tournament begins March 5, with the Dominican team facing Nicaragua in its opener on March 6. Quarterfinal play begins March 13, with the WBC final set for March 17 at loanDepot park in Miami.
Caminero won’t be the only Rays player in the tournament. Reliever Edwin Uceta will join him on the Dominican Republic squad, first baseman Jonathan Aranda will again play for Team Mexico and lefty Garrett Cleavinger is set to join the Team USA bullpen.