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PHILADELPHIA – Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero was struck on the left hand by a pitch from St. Louis Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien in the top of the third inning and was immediately removed from the 96th All-Star Game.
X-rays were negative.
O’Brien’s 97.6 mph sinker came on the second pitch of the at-bat and hit Caminero on the outside of his left hand. He immediately sprawled on the ground, stayed down for a minute and then bounced up and jogged into the American League dugout.
He was replaced by pinch runner Miguel Vargas.
Caminero, 23, is making his second consecutive All-Star appearance and hit 28 home runs before the All-Star break. O’Brien saved 24 first-half games for St. Louis.
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2026 MLB All Star game delivers big moments in Philadelphia
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)
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2026 MLB All Star game delivers big moments in Philadelphia
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)
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2026 MLB All Star game delivers big moments in Philadelphia
Fans look on before the All-Star Game as the sun sets over the field at Citizens Bank Park.
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)
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2026 MLB All Star game delivers big moments in Philadelphia
Chicago White Sox third baseman Munetaka Murakami practices before the All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park.
(Kyle Ross, Imagn Images)
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2026 MLB All Star game delivers big moments in Philadelphia
New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) greets fans before the All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park.
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)
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2026 MLB All Star game delivers big moments in Philadelphia
New York Yankees center fielder Cody Bellinger (35), Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27), and Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (13) warm up before the All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park.
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)
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2026 MLB All Star game delivers big moments in Philadelphia
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13) and Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) warm up before the All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park.
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)
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2026 MLB All Star game delivers big moments in Philadelphia
Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Pete Crow-Armstrong #4 of the Chicago Cubs, and Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies speak during warmups before the 2026 MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB All Star game delivers big moments in Philadelphia
Juan Soto #22 of the New York Mets looks on during warm ups before the 2026 MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
This story has been updated with new information.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Junior Caminero injury update: Rays slugger exits MLB All-Star Game after being hit by pitch
