"All the dreams, they can come true" - Rays prospect Junior Caminero gets choked up reflecting on playing alongside childhood idol Manny Machado

Junior Caminero will perhaps never forget the day he first faced the San Diego Padres at Tropicana Field. The Tampa Bay Rays third baseman simply could not hold back the tears when he reflected upon the prospect of playing in the same field with his childhood idol Manny Machado.

Rated as the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball, Junior Caminero is making a strong impression since getting recalled by the Rays earlier this month. The 21-year-old made his MLB debut as a September call-up last year and made the cut for the postseason roster after his team had clinched the American League East division title.

On Thursday, the Rays started a three-game home series against the Padres at Tropicana Field. Before the game, Bally Sport Sun reporter Tricia Whitaker asked Junior Caminero to offer his thoughts on sharing the same field with Manny Machado, his boyhood hero. The rookie was totally overcome by emotion as he wiped away the tears from his eyes before he could respond to the question.

"It's a dream," Caminero said (via Rays translator Manny Navarro). “All the dreams. They can come true.”

"We are both here together to keep working hard," he added. "All these dreams can come true, but just keep working hard."

Caminero batted .278/.339/.463 with 2 home runs and 4 RBI in 15 games before facing the series opener on Thursday. However, he had a poor outing after going 0-5 in the game. On the other hand, his idol Machado put on a stellar display with 3 hits on the day, including a home run and four RBIs.

Junior Caminero is a superstar in the making: Manny Machado

Manny Machado believes Junior Caminero will become a suerstar of the MLB (Photo Credit: IMAGN)

San Diego Padres superstar Manny Machado believes Junior Caminero is destined for an excellent MLB career. The veteran third baseman was seen speaking with the Tampa Bay Rays rookie during batting practice on Thursday.

Manny Machado gave a short interview to Tricia Whitaker before the start of the game.

“I know he got emotional and that is what the game is all about," Machado said. "I mean, we want to impact one, two, three out of millions of players or people around the world that we can impact."

"He is a superstar in the making," he added.

Machado is having another solid campaign with a .274/.325/.466 slashline and .791 OPS. He has also recorded 49 extra-base hits with 23 home runs and 83 RBIs.

Meanwhile, the San Diego Padres have moved to 77-60 for the season following their latest win on Thursday. It takes them above the Arizona Diamondbacks into second place in the National League West.