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5 years after Rays stole Caminero from Guards, the question remains: HOW?

Five years after the Tampa Bay Rays acquired infielder Wander Franco—then known as Junior Caminero—for a minor-league pitcher, the question of how they spotted his immense talent so early remains one of baseball’s most intriguing prospect stories. At just 18, Caminero had spent less than two seasons in Cleveland’s system, including a single partial campaign in the Dominican Summer League, before being traded for Rule 5-eligible right-hander Tobias Myers.

The Guardians quickly regretted the move, with then-GM Chris Antonetti later calling it a “bad trade,” while the Rays’ minor-league director, Jeff McLerran, took notice after a chance encounter in the Dominican Republic.

During a workout at the Rays’ complex, field coordinator Alejandro Freire observed Caminero’s bat speed and the distinct sound of the ball coming off it—a trait that would later define his power-hitting career. Freire’s initial skepticism turned to curiosity after ruling out any physical or disciplinary issues, leading him to urge McLerran to monitor the prospect closely.

The gamble paid off almost immediately: Caminero rose through the minors rapidly, earned a Wild Card Series roster spot at age 20 in 2023, and has since become a two-time All-Star with 87 home runs in the past two seasons. For McLerran and the Rays, the trade was a rare example of a low-risk move yielding one of the game’s brightest young stars.

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