The 2026 World Series hadn’t even started yet, and Junior Caminero was already breaking things.
On Wednesday, October 22 — the eve of Game 1 at American Family Field — the Rays third baseman stepped into the batting practice cage and sent a ball straight into the center-field scoreboard. The impact caused a visible glitch on the display, right as the World Series logo was showing in the background. MLB’s official account posted the video on X with the caption: «Junior Caminero’s homer knocked out the lights on the American Family Field scoreboard 😳» The clip racked up more than 137,700 views in a matter of hours.
To be straight about it: the ball hit the scoreboard and caused a visual malfunction. There’s no official report of structural damage. The «broke the scoreboard» language is hyperbole — but the video makes it very hard to argue with.
Why Nobody Was Surprised
WTSP-TV’s Evan Closky first reported the moment; MLB confirmed it shortly after. But anyone who’s watched Caminero this season knows this is just what he does. The 23-year-old from Santo Domingo finished the regular season with:
- 42 home runs and 101 RBI in 162 games
- .884 OPS
- 92.7 mph average exit velocity (95th percentile in MLB)
- 79.4 mph average bat speed — 100th percentile in all of MLB
- 13.1% barrel rate (89th percentile)
- 49.7% hard-hit rate (91st percentile)
- .364 xwOBA (91st percentile)
ESPN ranks him as the second-most home runs in MLB over the last two years (87), trailing only Kyle Schwarber. A batting practice shot breaking the scoreboard is on-brand.
The Postseason Narrative — and Why It Matters Now
The BP blast arrived at the right moment. Through nine postseason games heading into Game 1, Caminero had slashed .273/.351/.455 with just one home run — a quiet stretch that had some questioning whether his regular-season power would show up when it counted. It’s a small sample in his first full postseason run in MLB, but the narrative was forming.
Then again, there’s a more important data point: his go-ahead home run in the seventh inning of ALCS Game 6 against the Cleveland Guardians is the reason Tampa Bay is in this World Series at all. The scoreboard shot was just a reminder of what’s in the barrel.
The Bigger Picture: Latin Stars on Both Sides
This World Series carries a cultural thread that runs deeper than Rays vs. Brewers. On Tampa’s side, Caminero 🇩🇴 is the most dangerous bat in the lineup. Milwaukee answers with its own core: Venezuelan outfielder Jackson Chourio 🇻🇪 and catcher William Contreras 🇻🇪. The series airs in Spanish on FOX Deportes, with Univision covering Game 1 and TUDN Radio carrying the full series.
It’s also worth noting the weight of the venue itself. American Family Field has never hosted a World Series game. The last time Milwaukee was a Fall Classic host was 1982, at County Stadium. And this is the first World Series since 1980 where neither team has ever won a championship. Everything that happens here — including a BP home run that kills the scoreboard — carries extra meaning.
Caminero’s full Statcast profile is available at Baseball Savant.
