Junior Caminero on His EPIC Bat Flip, MLB Salary Cap & Baseball's Hidden Reality

Junior Caminero on His EPIC Bat Flip, MLB Salary Cap & Baseball's Hidden Reality

In this episode of Sources Tell Jeff Passan, Jeff Passan sits down with Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero for an honest conversation about his remarkable path to the major leagues—and the challenges facing baseball today. Junior reflects on being traded from the Cleveland organization to the Rays. He also looks back on one of the most unforgettable moments of his career: crushing the game-winning home run in the LIDOM Championship and unleashing a bat flip that many believe is one of the greatest ever seen in baseball. The conversation then shifts to some of the sport's biggest and most important topics. Jeff and Junior discuss the proposed MLB salary cap, what it could mean for players and the future of the game, and the often-overlooked realities facing many Latin American prospects. Junior shares insight into how young players are frequently exploited financially and the pressures that can lead some teenagers—as young as 10 years old—to use performance-enhancing drugs in pursuit of a professional career. Timecodes: 0:00       Welcome to Sources Tell Jeff Passan 2:10       Rays Junior Caminero Joins Sources Tell Jeff Passan 3:21       Developing a fast swing and being signed by MLB at Age 17 6:06       Getting Internet Fame off one swing and growing up in DR 9:28       Baseball is Life and Importance of Education 14:03     Junior Caminero on MLB Scouting 17:31     Thoughts on being traded by Indians 20:10     What the Rays saw in him and playing in Australian Baseball League 33:02     Hitting the ball, “Perfect, Perfect.” 31:30     Making MLB Debut with Rays and playing for Albert Pujols 38:07     Breaking down Homerun that won the LIDOM Championship 44:50     Becoming an everyday player for the Rays 46:54     Free Agency and Salary Cap 52:30     Importance of having Latin player representatives during labor talks 59:31     Love for WBC as a Dominican Player 1:01:44  After baseball wants to become a DJ and golf enthusiast  1:02:52  How the game of baseball talks to you 1:05:32  Why the Rays are always competitive  1:07:57  Wrapping up Sources Tell Jeff Passan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Behind the Lens of Michael Zagaris with Special Guests Jose Canseco, Billy Beane, Dallas Braden

In this special episode, Jeff Passan is joined by legendary sports and rock 'n' roll photographer Michael Zagaris, along with special guests Jose Canseco, Billy Beane, and Dallas Braden. They share behind-the-scenes stories from some of the sport's most iconic moments, including Canseco's famous beefcake photo shoot for Madonna, how Zagaris helped inspire Brad Pitt's portrayal of Billy Beane in Moneyball, and Braden's unforgettable perfect game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

The Sourcies: MLB Midseason Awards Show

In this special episode of Sources Tell Jeff Passan, Jeff hands out his inaugural MLB Midseason Awards, The Sourcies. He’s handing out hardware for the accomplishments that actually matter. Joining him are MLB players Jo Adell, Logan Gilbert, Jake Mangum, and Corbin Carroll, who accepted their prestigious award with great pride.  From hilarious clubhouse stories and unforgettable moments to the quirks, celebrations, mishaps, and innovations that defined the first half of the season, this episode celebrates the side of baseball that doesn’t show up in the box score. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

1994: The Year Baseball Went Dark with Tom Glavine

The 1994 Major League Baseball strike remains one of the most consequential labor disputes in sports history—canceling the World Series, dividing fans, and reshaping the future of the game. More than three decades later, host Jeff Passan sits down with Hall of Fame pitcher and former player representative Tom Glavine to revisit one of baseball's most turbulent chapters. Glavine offers a firsthand account of the events that led to the strike, the tensions between players and owners, the difficult decisions made behind closed doors, and the lasting impact the work stoppage had on the sport. This conversation provides a rare insider perspective on a defining moment in baseball history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Baseball Superstitions: Turk Wendell & Dr. Stuart Vyse

Baseball has always been a game of routines, rituals, and maybe a little bit of magic. This week on Sources Tell Jeff Passan, Jeff explores the fascinating world of baseball superstitions. Former MLB pitcher Turk Wendell—one of the most famously superstitious players in baseball history—joins the show to discuss the routines that defined his career and why he never considered them superstitions at all. Then, psychologist and author Dr. Stuart Vyse breaks down the science behind superstition: why athletes cling to rituals, why we believe certain behaviors can influence outcomes, and what those habits reveal about the human mind. From the mound to the mind, this episode examines why superstition has remained such a powerful part of baseball culture for generations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]