Prospect Report: Caminero, Chourio Show Off In The Southern League

Image credit: Junior Caminero (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Junior Caminero, SS/3B, Rays: Caminero is one of the easiest choices for the breakout player of the summer. The former Guardians farmhand—who was dealt to Tampa Bay in a deal that sent Tobias Myers to Cleveland—annihilated High-A before earning a promotion to Double-A as a 19-year-old and a berth in the Futures Game. On Thursday, he went 4-for-6 with a pair of doubles in Montgomery’s rout of Chattanooga. The effort was Caminero’s third game this season with four or more hits and first since moving to Double-A.

Jackson Chourio, OF, Brewers: Milwaukee’s 19-year-old sensation was up to his old tricks on Thursday, when he launched his 15th home run of the season. The blast came off of fellow 2023 Futures Gamer Jonathan Cannon. The blast makes Chourio the fourth player 19 years old or younger to reach 15 homers this season, joining Junior Caminero (Rays), Ryan Clifford (Astros) and Thayron Liranzo (Dodgers). Of that quartet, Chourio is the only one to spend the entire season at the upper levels of the minor leagues. The last minor leaguer 19 years or younger to hit 15 or more homers while playing solely at Double-A or higher? Fernando Tatis Jr. in 2018.

Wade Meckler, OF, Giants: Meckler was San Francisco’s eighth-round selection out of Oregon State in 2022 and all he’s done as a pro is hit, hit and hit some more. He’s split this season between High-A Eugene and Double-A Richmond and has hit a combined .383/.455/.518 with four home runs and just 35 strikeouts in 253 plate appearances, good for a strikeout rate of just 13.8%. On Thursday, he went 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs. It was his 24th multi-hit game of the year.

Agustin Ramirez, C, Yankees: Since being promoted to High-A, Ramirez has proved to be the best Renegade since Jay-Z and Eminem collaborated in 2001. The 21-year-old backstop has played 20 games with Hudson Valley and has already homered seven times—or as many as he hit in 56 games at Low-A Tampa—including in each of the last four games. He has 10 doubles with High-A as well, giving him 17 extra-base hits, or three more than he hit in the Florida State League before the promotion.

Jefferson Rojas, SS, Cubs: The 18-year-old Rojas has had his ups and downs since being promoted to Low-A after just one game in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League. His most recent game fits firmly in the “up” category. Facing Fredericksburg, Rojas went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run. The home run was a grand slam and was his third longball of his Myrtle Beach tenure.

Ethan Salas, C, Padres: It is difficult to fathom the insanity of Salas’ season. The 17-year-old catcher went 2-for-4 with a double on Thursday, marking his third straight day with multiple hits. For the month, he is hitting .378/.432/.730. That is not just bananas. It is plantains, pomegranates and coconuts, too. His OPS this month is 1.164, which is good for 15th in the entire full-season minor leagues. Salas has 54 total bases this month, which places him in a tie for sixth in the entire full-season minor leagues. As a reminder, Salas signed with San Diego in January of this year. Just more than six months later—without a game in the DSL or ACL—he’s running roughshod over the California League. Seasons like this don’t come around very often. Sit back and enjoy it.