Ken Caminiti made his first All-Star Game in the strike-shortened 1994 Season, his eighth in Houston. In a push to get younger, Caminiti was part of a 12-man trade to San Diego in the winter, and with the Padres, he embarked on the best run of his career.
Caminiti’s power game exploded (he later admitted to using PEDs), and he had his first 20-plus Home Run year, belting 26, while also batting over .300 for the first time. His second year as a Padre was his best in Baseball, winning the MVP with career-highs in Home Runs (40), RBIs (130), and the Slash Line (.326/.408/.621). He would also win the Silver Slugger, and defensively, he won his second straight Gold Glove, with a third following the year after.
Caminiti kept his power numbers strong, over the next two years, with seasons of 26 and 29 Home Runs, respectively. He rejoined the Astros as a Free Agent in 1999, leaving the Padres after 121 Home Runs and a .295 Batting Average. The Padres inducted Caminiti into their Hall of Fame in 2016.
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