Thursday, July 09
Welcome to The Pregame Lineup, a weekday newsletter that gets you up to speed on everything you need to know for today’s games, while catching you up on fun and interesting stories you might have missed. Today’s newsletter is brought to you by David Adler.
Junior Caminero has hit plenty of monster home runs right here in the big leagues. That’s why he’s in the Home Run Derby.
But his most monstrous home run of all? He hit that one on the other side of the world. Matt Monagan has the story.
On the southwest coast of Australia is a tiny stadium called Empire Ballpark. That’s where a 19-year-old Caminero crushed one of the longest home runs any Aussie baseball fan had ever seen.
Why was the Rays All-Star even there? Well, after he was traded from the Guardians to the Rays in November 2021, Tampa Bay sent the young slugger to play for the Perth Heat of the Australian Baseball League for the 2022-23 winter season.
On the night of Nov. 12, 2022, Caminero — thousands of miles from Tampa or his native Dominican Republic — treated a new continent to true light-tower power.
Beyond the center-field fence at Empire Ballpark is a big old shed. To the base of the shed is 400 feet, and the building goes back another 60-70 feet beyond that.
Caminero cleared it.
His home run instantly became the stuff of legend in Perth. How far did it go? 470 feet? 480? 500???
We’ll never know exactly where that ball landed, because no one would dare venture out into the Australian wilderness beyond the center-field shed to retrieve it.
“There are snakes everywhere out there in that field,” Heat broadcaster Paul Morgan said. “You’re taking a risk to get that home run ball.”
All we know is, Caminero better hit some more moonshots like that in the Derby on Monday.
DERBY FIELD AT 5 WITH BREAKOUT SLUGGER
Jordan Walker is the fifth player headed to the 2026 T-Mobile Home Run Derby.
Walker will join Junior Caminero, Ben Rice, Jac Caglianone and Willson Contreras in the Derby on Monday in Philadelphia (8 p.m. ET, live on Netflix).
That leaves three more Home Run Derby contestants to be announced. Keep track of the updated Derby field here.
Walker will be the first Cardinals hitter to participate in the Home Run Derby since Albert Pujols in 2022. No Cardinal has ever won the Derby. Pujols came closest when he finished as the runner-up to Garret Anderson in 2003.
The 24-year-old is a first-time All-Star this season. Walker is having a breakout year with 21 home runs and a Major League-leading 70 RBIs.
He has one of the fastest swings in the Major Leagues — Walker’s average bat speed of 79.1 mph is second only to Caminero this season — which hopefully means lots of Home Run Derby blasts are incoming.
GAMES OF THE NIGHT
For info on how to watch every game this season, go to MLB.com/Watch.
Mariners at Marlins (6:40 p.m. ET, MLB.TV)
The streaking Marlins have now won five games in a row and pulled even with the Phillies for the second NL Wild Card spot. Miami is 51-42, including an MLB-best 25-8 since the start of June. The Marlins go for the sweep of the Mariners tonight, but they’ll have to go through Bryce Miller, who’s been awesome so far in 2026 (1.71 ERA in nine games with 62 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings).
Phillies at Reds (7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network / MLB.TV)
Jesús Luzardo takes the mound after being named an All-Star for the first time on Tuesday — giving the host Phillies an MLB-high six players in the All-Star Game. Luzardo, who replaced the Marlins’ Max Meyer on the roster, ranks third in the NL with 125 strikeouts, behind only fellow All-Stars Jacob Misiorowski and teammate Cristopher Sánchez.
Angels at Rangers (8:05 p.m. ET, MLB.TV)
Mike Trout returned to the lineup with a bangyesterday (aka, his 18th home run of the season), on the 15th anniversary of his MLB debut on July 8, 2011. Now the Angels superstar has his sights set on his 12th All-Star Game — the most of any active player. If all goes well this week, Trout will be set to start the game in the outfield for the AL, and he’s a two-time All-Star Game MVP.
SONNY DAYS AHEAD IN ATLANTA?
We’ll be bringing you all the latest trade rumors up to the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline. Here’s what’s happening today:
Braves interested in Gray
Sonny Gray would be one of the top trade chips for the Red Sox if they decide to sell at the Deadline, and he’s already drawing interest from many teams — including the NL East-leading Braves, who have a handful of starting pitchers on the injured list as they try to hold off the Phillies and upstart Marlins.
Will Miller be traded … again?
The Padres’ trade for Mason Miller was one of the biggest blockbusters of last year’s Deadline. Could San Diego pull another stunner this year by trading Miller again? MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand asked rival executives what they think. If Miller were available, contenders like the Phillies, Cubs, Brewers and Yankees could all be landing spots.
Astros looking at outfielders
The Astros are reportedly showing interest in Rockies outfielders Mickey Moniak and Jake McCarthy, which makes a lot of sense considering Houston’s lack of offensive production from its outfield this season. Both Moniak and McCarthy are having strong years.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
Here’s the news and notes from around the Majors.
• White Sox star rookie Munetaka Murakami could return to the lineup tomorrow after missing more than a month with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain. The lefty slugger has 20 home runs and a .938 OPS in 57 games in his first season in the Majors. The White Sox open a series against the A’s in Chicago tomorrow (7:40 p.m. ET, MLB.TV).
• Yankees superstar Aaron Judge will have his fractured right rib reimaged during the All-Star break. The Yankees hope the results will help provide a clearer timetable for the reigning AL MVP’s return. Judge has been on the injured list since June 5.
• Junior Caminero just smashed his 27th home run of the season today against the Yankees — and his recent home run binge has lifted him almost to the top of our latest Hitter Power Rankings.
• With Justin Verlander set to retire at the end of the season, here’s a look back at the defining moments of a Hall of Fame-caliber career. From no-hitters to Cy Young Awards to World Series rings to the 3,000-strikeout club, Verlander did it all.
• Dylan Cease came oh-so-close to ending the Blue Jays’ 36-year no-hitter drought yesterday, but his bid against the Giants was broken up in the ninth inning. Dave Stieb threw Toronto’s only no-hitter on Sept. 2, 1990 — although, memorably, he also lost three no-hit bids with two outs in the ninth inning before he finally finished the job. Cease does have a no-hitter already, but that was with the Padres in 2024.
• Pete Crow-Armstrong became the first 20-20 player in the Majors this year after hitting two more home runs yesterday. It’s his second straight season with at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases (last year he went 31-35). The only other players who are anywhere close to 20-20 right now are James Wood (25 homers, 15 steals), CJ Abrams (20 homers, 15 steals) and Oneil Cruz (14 homers, 21 steals).
MLB.TV ALL-STAR SALE
The All-Star Game is right around the corner, and it’s time to bring in midsummer savings to your wallet. For a limited time only, MLB.TV is now only $47.99! Stream every out-of-market game live or on demand.
New subscribers who purchase MLB.TV can get a free one-month trial of ESPN Unlimited. Subscribers will receive an email to redeem their trial. Rest of season pricing offer valid through 7/12/26. After initial purchase, ESPN subscription is not required to maintainMLB.TV subscription. Blackouts & terms apply.
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RJ Hamster 