In a dramatic moment during the 96th All-Star Game, Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero was forced to leave the field after being struck on the left hand by a pitch from St. Louis Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien. The incident occurred in the top of the third inning, shortly after Caminero stepped up to the plate.
O’Brien’s fastball, clocked at 97.6 mph, hit Caminero on the outside of his left hand, sending him sprawling to the ground. After a brief moment of concern, he managed to get back on his feet and jogged into the American League dugout. He was subsequently replaced by pinch runner Miguel Vargas.
Fortunately for the Rays and their fans, X-rays on Caminero’s hand came back negative, alleviating immediate fears of a serious injury. The 23-year-old is making his second consecutive All-Star appearance this season, having already notched an impressive 28 home runs prior to the break. O’Brien, on the other hand, has been a reliable presence for the Cardinals, saving 24 games in the first half of the season.
Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.
