Junior Caminero wins the 2026 Juan Marichal Award after leading Tampa Bay to the World Series

Dominican third baseman Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays was announced this Tuesday as the winner of the fifth edition of the Juan Marichal Award, the honor recognizing the most outstanding Dominican player of the 2026 Major League Baseball season. With the distinction, Caminero succeeds Juan Soto and joins the select group of Dominican stars recognized with the prize.

The announcement was made during a press conference at which Sports Minister Kelvin Cruz also paid tribute to the legendary Juan Marichal on his 89th birthday, according to Dominican sports press reports.

Caminero put together a breakout offensive season with the Rays, batting .276 with 42 home runs, 101 RBIs and 170 hits in the regular season, numbers that earned him recognition as the most productive Dominican of the 2026 campaign, according to Swing Completo.

The award comes a day after the third baseman sealed Tampa Bay's World Series berth: on Monday, October 19, the Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series, which they won 4-2. Caminero hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning to put the game away, and Dominican starter Freddy Peralta (5.1 innings, one earned run) was named the series' Most Valuable Player.

The World Series will begin on Friday, October 23, at American Family Field in Milwaukee, where the Rays will face the Brewers, National League champions. The final will crown a first-time champion: neither club has ever lifted the Commissioner's Trophy.

Photo: Swing Completo

Source: Swing Completo.