Tuesday, August 26

Hello and welcome to the Rays Beat newsletter. Brian Murphy is pinch-hitting this week.

You didn’t need a crystal ball to see into the Rays’ future on Friday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field. 

It was right there in the flesh, standing side by side on the left half of the infield.

At third base, Junior Caminero, the club’s 22-year-old former top prospect who is already one of the game’s premier sluggers. At shortstop, Carson Williams, the club’s 22-year-old current top prospect who possesses a rare blend of power, speed and elite defense.

Both arrived in the organization in 2021 -- Williams was the 28th overall pick in the Draft that July, and Caminero was acquired in a November trade with Cleveland. They rose up through Tampa Bay’s system together, sharing Minor League fields since their days at Single-A Charleston in 2022.

Now they were on the same big league field together, and you couldn’t help but think of the possibilities.

“The word that comes to mind is ‘some damage,’” Williams said when asked before Friday’s game what he and Caminero could accomplish together. “I feel like we could do some damage together on both sides of the ball.”

Damage was indeed inflicted Friday, Williams’ MLB debut, as both youngsters homered during a win over the Cardinals. Caminero called the game a “dream come true.”

“We were two kids that dreamed of [playing together in the Majors], and everything came to a realization today,” Caminero said via team interpreter Eddie Rodriguez.

Williams described Caminero, who is 10 days younger, as a role model because of how fast he ascended through the Minors. He played in his first Major League game only 22 months after that trade. 

“It was admirable to see him just kind of exceed expectations and kind of just go up super quick,” Williams said. “Getting to the big league level, it seemed like he adjusted really nicely and has only gotten better since then. I admire his work and how he's kind of come to his stardom.”

When Williams found out he was going to The Show, his role model was quick to offer some words of wisdom, both on Thursday when his call-up became official and before Friday’s game.

“I spoke to him and I told him this is the same game,” Caminero said. “I went through it, too. I was just giving him advice that this was just another game, and you see what happened.”

In their second game together, Caminero crushed a grand slam, and Williams had a double, scored twice and picked up his first stolen base in the bigs, showing off the speed that helped him notch 20-20 seasons in the Minors each year from 2023-25.

And in Monday's 9-0 win over the Guardians, Caminero went 4-for-5 with two homers, while Williams was 2-for-5 with two RBIs.

But maybe we shouldn’t get used to this dynamic duo just yet. Williams’ first stint with the Rays may be a short one since shortstop Ha-Seong Kim (low back inflammation) could come off the injured list before the end of this month. Infielder Taylor Walls (left groin strain) may rejoin the club in September, too.

When manager Kevin Cash was asked about having Caminero and Williams on the same infield, he noted that they are two very different players right now. The former is already an All-Star; the latter just got here.

“I try not to dream too far out,” Cash said, “because I think that in a way, that's unfair pressure to [Williams].”

But this past weekend gave Rays fans good reason to dream on what the left side of this infield could look like for many years.

“If things go the right way, they could be the cornerstone of those two positions,” veteran second baseman Brandon Lowe said. “... It’s very exciting for the future to come.”

After his two-homer performance Monday, Caminero has 12 home runs this month. Who holds the Rays’ record for most home runs in a month, with 13?

A. Carlos Pena

B. B.J. Upton

C. Evan Longoria

D. Jonny Gomes

We know Chandler Simpson has track-level speed. But what’s he like on a rap track? Well, now you can listen and find out.

Cardinals outfielder Victor Scott II, Simpson’s good friend and fellow Atlanta native, has been releasing music since 2021 under the alias Argo. He has numerous albums and singles to his name, and he dropped his latest album -- Not Your Average Rapper 2 -- earlier this month.

It includes a song titled “Oxygen” that has a feature from Simpson (whose rap name is … Chandler Simpson). The Rays’ speed demon says he and his friends -- including Athletics star Lawrence Butler and Nationals Minor Leaguer Marquis Grissom Jr. -- are often in the studio recording songs during the offseason. And there’s an open invitation to the Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr., who also makes music.

“I said whenever he’s in Atlanta, we can link up and then we can go to the studio and make something,” Simpson said.

Simpson listens to all kinds of music, but rap is his forte, and he’s inspired by other artists who came out of the Atlanta area such as Young Thug, Lil Baby and Gunna. But he said there is one key difference between him and Scott: “He just chooses to release his [music], and I keep mine in my phone.”

So, is this the beginning of a second career for Simpson?

“No. Most definitely, I play baseball,” he said with a big grin.

What about after you retire?

“Still no.”

A. Carlos Pena

Pena set the mark in September 2007. That’s the same year Pena recorded the Rays’ single-season home run record with 46 long balls. Caminero now has 39 homers on the year. With five games left to play in August and 31 games remaining this season, he could top both of Pena’s records once all is said and done.

To subscribe to Rays Beat, visit this page and mark "Rays Beat" from our newsletter list. Make sure you're following the Rays or that they're checked as your favorite team.

View Online

© 2025 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. MLB trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of Major League Baseball. Visit MLB.com. Any other marks used herein are trademarks of their respective owners.

Please review our Privacy Policy.

You (mlb-newsletters@mlb.com) received this message because you registered to receive commercial email messages or purchased a ticket from MLB. 

Please add info@marketing.mlbemail.com to your address book to ensure our messages reach your inbox. If you no longer wish to receive commercial email messages from MLB.com, please unsubscribe or log in and manage your email subscriptions.

Postal Address: MLB.com, c/o MLB Advanced Media, L.P., 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.