Tampa Bay Rays' Top Prospect Unlikely to Crack Opening Day Roster, Even Despite Wander Franco Uncertainty

Even despite the uncertainly around Wander Franco, the Tampa Bay Rays likely won't have top infield prospect Junior Caminero make the Opening Day roster, per reports.

According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, the Rays, faced with the question of whether or not Franco will ever play again, could have banked on Caminero being the answer, but instead traded for Jose Caballero.

Per Topkin:

With Franco’s availability uncertain at best, Taylor Walls likely out until early May due to right hip surgery (and sporting a career .189 average), questions about the defense and overall readiness of Osleivis Basabe and future star Junior Caminero, and slick-fielding prospect Carson Williams a couple of years away, the Rays went outside to get help at shortstop.

The answer was Jose Caballero, a 27-year-old spark plug-type who spent much of his 2023 rookie season in Seattle playing second base (hitting .221) but logged nearly 800 minor-league innings at short.

Caballero will get the chance to win the job, with his arm probably the biggest question, allowing the Rays to decide later what to do when Walls returns or if Caminero tears up the minors.

By saying "tears up the minors," Topkin is insinuating that that is the most likely path for Caminero, who made his major league debut last season.

He is the No. 4 prospect in all of baseball, per MLB.com:

The following comes from his MLB.com prospect profile:

Starting from an open stance, the right-handed slugger routinely unloads on pitches of all kinds (especially fastballs) with exit velocities that would pop up Major League leaderboards right now, nevermind ones adjusted for age. It’s near top-of-the-scale power that plays to all fields -- eight of his 20 Double-A homers went the other way to right -- and it’s a big reason why Tampa Bay wanted him nearby in the playoffs. His plate discipline also improved as he climbed the ladder, and that, combined with his loud contact, should help him be a plus overall hitter, too.

He hit .235 in 34 at-bats after his call-up last season. He had one home run.