Caminero on Pace to Break dominican Record for Home Runs at Youngest Age
TAMPA BAY – José Caminero is rapidly approaching a historic milestone,poised to become the youngest Dominican player to hit 40 home runs in a Major League Baseball season. The Tampa Bay rays outfielder currently has 36 home runs through 132 games, needing just four more to surpass the mark previously held by Alex Rodríguez.
At 22 years old, Caminero is on track to eclipse Rodríguez’s record, set in 1996 when “A-Rod” hit 36 home runs in his age-20 season. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s 48-homer campaign at age 22 and six months is another benchmark, though Caminero would need nine more home runs in September to match that total. This pursuit isn’t just a personal achievement; it represents a new high-water mark for Dominican players and adds another compelling narrative to a thrilling MLB season.
Caminero’s power surge has been remarkably efficient.He connects on a home run every 12.98 at-bats, the sixth-best frequency in MLB. Through tuesday, he’s participated in 132 games wiht 519 plate appearances.
The Rays’ slugger is already the second player in Tampa Bay franchise history to reach 40 home runs, trailing only fellow Dominican Carlos Peña, who hit 46 in 2007.Caminero is also the seventh player in franchise history to drive in 100 or more runs.
Born on March 16, 1999, Guerrero Jr. set a high bar with his 48 home runs. Caminero’s current pace suggests he could not only break the Dominican record for precocity but also establish himself as one of the game’s premier power hitters.The coming weeks will determine if he can sustain this momentum and etch his name into baseball history.
