CLEVELAND -- Standing near his locker, Junior Caminero slowly rubbed his jaw and winced while taking a peek at the 76ers-Celtics playoff game on one of the large TVs hanging in Tampa Bay’s clubhouse.
He was clearly sore, but also relieved.
Caminero suffered a bruised right jaw when he was struck in the face by a foul tip while batting in the first inning of Tuesday night's 1-0 win over Cleveland.
After getting to his feet, Caminero was checked by trainer Joe Benge, who examined his teeth and neck, as manager Kevin Cash watched with concern nearby. Caminero, who has braces on his teeth, resumed his at-bat and grounded out to Guardians starter Tanner Bibee on the next pitch.
Following the game, a relieved Cash said his slugging third baseman was going to fine.
“He's OK,” Cash said. “He's in really good spirits and I would expect him to be in the lineup tomorrow. That ball really came off the plate hard and I'm just glad that he's in a pretty good spot right now."
Caminero was not made available to reporters after the Rays posted their first shutout, while winning their sixth in a row and 13th straight against AL opponents.
His teammates were equally happy he was OK after what initially appeared to be a serious injury.
“It was a scary moment at first,” said first baseman Jonathan Aranda, who drove in the game’s only run with a single in the fifth. ”We’re wishing him the best and hopefully he comes back and joins us soon.”
After the Rays were retired in the first, Caminero was replaced at third base by Richie Palacios, who was in the original starting lineup at second. Ben Williamson took over at second.
The Rays said that Caminero is listed as day to day.
The 22-year-old Caminero began his career in Cleveland’s organization and was traded to the Rays in November 2021 for right-handed pitcher Tobias Myers. He entered the game batting .259 with eight homers and 15 RBIs. He’d hit safely in 12 of his last 14 games, batting .293 with six homers and 12 RBIs in that span.
Caminero has hit all eight homers since April 5.