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.

A third-round selection in 1984, Ken Caminiti was a physically imposing third baseman with a specialized defensive range and a throwing arm that some thought could be legendary.

Debuting for the Astros in 1987, Caminiti might have won an MVP in San Diego later in his career, but his run in Houston can not be forgotten.  In 1994, he earned his first career All-Star selection and his first Gold Glove Award, batting .283 with 18 home runs in the strike-shortened season. From 1989 to 1991, he appeared in at least 152 Games, but following the 1994 season, everything was about to change.

Caminiti was part of a 12-player trade to San Diego.  With the Astros, Caminiti compiled 1,034 hits and 103 home runs.