Rays’ Junior Caminero Finalist for 2025 AL Hank Aaron Award

The spotlight’s fixed on Tampa Bay Rays infielder Junior Caminero. He’s crashed onto the scene in his first full MLB season and now stands among elite company.

Caminero just landed as one of ten American League finalists for the 2025 Hank Aaron Award, which goes annually to the league’s top offensive player. His season’s been jaw-dropping—he’s not just among baseball’s best hitters, but he might make some franchise history too.

This blog digs into Caminero’s wild rise, his competition for the award, and the Rays’ off-field shakeups that could shape what’s next.

Junior Caminero’s Breakout Season

He’s only 22, but Caminero turned in a season that grabbed fans, analysts, and award voters by the collar. Over 154 games, he hit for a .264 batting average with 28 doubles, a ridiculous 45 home runs, and 110 RBIs.

His .846 OPS shows he’s not just a slugger—he gets on base and makes things happen.

Stat-wise, Caminero stacked up with the AL’s elite:

That mix of power and run production makes him a real threat for the Hank Aaron Award—a trophy no Rays player has ever touched.

Chasing History for the Rays

The Rays have pumped out their share of stars, but in 25 years, nobody’s brought home the Hank Aaron Award. Caminero’s 2024 campaign gives the franchise a shot at finally seeing one of their own named the league’s best offensive player.

For a guy in his first full season, that’s not just rare—it could change his whole career trajectory.

Competition for the 2025 Hank Aaron Award

It’s a gauntlet. Caminero’s up against a stacked group, including some names that already feel like legends.

The other finalists are:

Every finalist has a season worth bragging about. Still, Caminero’s matched—or even outpaced—some of these established vets in key stats.

Fan Involvement in the Voting Process

The Hank Aaron Award’s actually pretty cool because fans get a real say. Voting combines input from former players and the public, so supporters can tilt the scales.

If you want Caminero to win, you can vote at mlb.com/aaron until October 12. Every click counts, especially with history on the line for Tampa Bay.

The National League Race & Tampa Connections

Over in the NL, a few names should ring bells for Tampa fans—Pete Alonso and Kyle Tucker are both in the mix. Baseball’s brightest, like Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto, round out the list.

The MLB Awards Show will announce winners for both leagues on November 13. Should be a wild finish to the season.

Rays’ Ownership Change Signals a New Era

Meanwhile, the Rays’ future just took a sharp turn off the field. A group led by Patrick Zalupski, Bill Cosgrove, and Ken Babby reportedly bought the team for $1.7 billion from longtime owner Stuart Sternberg.

The new owners will step into the spotlight at a media conference at Steinbrenner Field on Tuesday. It’s the start of something new for Tampa Bay, on and off the diamond.

Potential Impact on the Franchise

A new ownership group usually brings fresh strategies and different investment priorities. For Rays fans, that might mean changes in how the team builds its roster or develops its stadium.

Community engagement could shift too, depending on how the new leaders see things. If Caminero wins the Hank Aaron Award, that could seriously energize the organization as it enters this new chapter.

Junior Caminero’s bat is on fire, and the Rays are staring down a new era of leadership. Tampa Bay sits at a crossroads—maybe even a transformative one—where what happens on the field and off it could totally reshape the franchise’s place in Major League Baseball.

 
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