Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Rehab assignment likely coming soon
Rotowire
Amaya (oblique) will likely begin a rehab assignment after the All-Star break and is expected to need about a week's worth of games before returning to the Cubs, MLB.com reports.
Amaya has taken batting practice and completed a few bullpen catching sessions in his rehab work so far, but he's yet to see live game action since landing on the injured list with a left oblique injury on May 24. The backstop now appears to be one step closer to returning to the majors, and when he does, he'll compete with Carson Kelly for work behind the plate, though Kelly has played well this year and is likely to remain Chicago's No. 1 catcher for the time being. Amaya compiled a .280/.313/.505 slash line with four home runs and 25 RBI in 27 games before getting injured.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Still ramping up in rehab
Rotowire
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday that Amaya (oblique) is "not close" to a return to game action, MLB.com reports.
Amaya has resumed throwing, taking normal batting practice, and catching bullpen sessions, but he looks as though he'll need a little more time to ramp up the intensity of his workouts before he's ready to go out on a minor-league rehab assignment. The Cubs have already indicated that Amaya won't return from the 10-day injured list until around the All-Star break at the earliest while he recovers from a left oblique strain. Chicago can afford to be patient, as Carson Kelly has performed well as the team's primary backstop with Amaya on the shelf.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Begins hitting program
Rotowire
Amaya (oblique) has started a hitting program, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Amaya began a throwing program June 15, and he has now started to do work from the plate as well. Manager Craig Counsell said Monday that the team is targeting a return for the catcher around the All-Star break. Amaya has been on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique injury since May 24, but he appears to be on the cusp of launching a minor-league rehab assignment.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Out several weeks
Rotowire
Manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday that Amaya (oblique) will likely be out for another 4-to-6 weeks, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Amaya landed on the injured list Sunday with a strained left oblique, and the results of his MRI confirmed that he will need to spend an extended period of time on the IL. Counsell said the team hopes to have the 26-year-old back before the All-Star break. Until then, Carson Kelly (illness) will likely see the bulk of starts behind the dish with Reese McGuire filling in occasionally.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Goes on IL
Rotowire
The Cubs placed Amaya (oblique) on the 10-day injured list Sunday.
Amaya suffered a left oblique strain during Saturday's 6-4 loss to the Reds. He'll be eligible to rejoin the big club June 4, but given the nature of the injury, he will most likely be out beyond the minimum 10 days. The Cubs called up Reese McGuire from Triple-A Iowa to provide another option behind the plate, but Carson Kelly is likely to see the bulk of the starts at catcher while Amaya is on the shelf.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Exits with trainer
Rotowire
Amaya was removed from Saturday's game against the Reds due to a left oblique strain, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Amaya had to come out of the game after throwing to second base on an Elly De La Cruz steal attempt. The 26-year-old backstop has been splitting time fairly evenly behind the plate with Carson Kelly, though the latter could take on an everyday role if Amaya's injury forces him onto the injured list.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Slugs homer, plates five
Rotowire
Amaya went 2-for-3 with a homer, a double, five RBI and an additional run scored in Monday's 8-7 loss to the Marlins.
The 26-year-old went yard for the fourth time this season with a three-run homer off Miami starter Edward Cabrera in the fourth. Amaya then returned in the sixth inning to knot the game at 6-6 with a two-RBI double, his ninth two-bagger of the season. Although Amaya is not the everyday catcher in Chicago, he has been a solid contributor at the plate when playing with a .287/.323/.529 slash line through 94 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Enters lineup Monday
Rotowire
Amaya is starting at catcher and batting eighth in Monday's game against the Marlins.
The Cubs are mixing things up a bit with Ian Happ (oblique) out for the third straight day, as regular DH Seiya Suzuki is covering Happ's spot in the outfield. Carson Kelly is sliding in as the DH on Monday, which opens up a start behind the plate for Amaya. While he hasn't been able to match Kelly's scintillating 1.151 OPS, Amaya has been a reliable offensive performer with a .741 OPS, three home runs and 18 RBI across 21 games.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Belts first homer
Rotowire
Amaya went 2-for-3 with a home run, three total runs and three total RBI against the Dodgers in a 16-0 victory Saturday.
Amaya didn't start the contest, but he was moved into the DH role after Seiya Suzuki exited in the fifth inning due to a wrist injury. Amaya took advantage of the opportunity, knocking a two-run single and a solo home run. Fellow backstop Carson Kelly had a big day of his own with two homers, and the duo has split catching duties pretty evenly of late, with Amaya getting the start behind the plate in four of the team's past eight games.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Resting Friday
Rotowire
Amaya is not in the Cubs' starting lineup against the Diamondbacks on Friday.
Amaya drove in five runs during Thursday's 10-6 win over Arizona. He'll get a break Friday while Carson Kelly serves behind home plate and bats ninth against Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Drives in five runs
Rotowire
Amaya went 2-for-5 with two doubles and five RBI during Thursday's 10-6 win against the Diamondbacks.
The 26-year-old started behind the plate and batted ninth in the Cubs' domestic opener, and he powered the offense with a three-run double in the fifth inning and a two-run double in the ninth. Amaya has been a bright spot in his first two games of the season, going 3-for-8 with three doubles and six RBI, which could help him move up from the bottom of the lineup.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Provides offense in 2025 opener
Rotowire
Amaya went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI in Tuesday's 4-1 defeat to the Dodgers in Tokyo.
The Cubs could muster only three hits against Yoshinobu Yamamoto and four relievers, and Amaya provided all the offense on a second-inning double. The catcher managed to carry over a strong spring performance into his 2025 debut, and while veteran Carson Kelly will see some playing time, Amaya could seize a larger role behind the plate if he gets off to a hot start.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Continues strong spring play
Rotowire
After going 2-for-3 in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Padres, Amaya is now batting an even .500 this spring.
Amaya is 9-for-18 with a home run and two RBI so far in Cactus League play. The 25-year-old is slated to split time behind the plate with offseason acquisition Carson Kelly this season, though Amaya could seize a larger share of playing time if he continues to show progress as a hitter. He finished with an OPS below .700 each of the last two years but flashed more offensive upside as he came up through the minors.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Not starting Sunday
Rotowire
Amaya is absent from Sunday's lineup against the Reds.
Christian Bethancourt will start behind home plate and bat seventh in the Cubs' regular-season finale. If he doesn't come off the bench Sunday, Amaya will end the 2024 regular season having slashed .232/.288/.357 with eight home runs and 47 RBI across 363 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Returns to lineup with solid effort
Rotowire
Amaya went 2-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's 10-4 win over the Phillies.
After sitting out Monday's game, Amaya returned to the lineup and rattled off his second straight two-hit effort dating back to Sunday. The catcher has a .653 OPS so far this season, which is a step back from last year's .688 mark. Amaya has yet to really take off offensively at the MLB level, though he stands a decent chance of once again being Chicago's starting catcher in 2025, at least to start the season.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Not in Friday's lineup
Rotowire
Amaya is not in the lineup for Friday's contest against the Nationals.
Amaya caught each of the last two games but will get a breather during Friday's afternoon tilt. Christian Bethancourt will be behind the dish and bat ninth for the Cubs.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Getting breather Saturday
Rotowire
Amaya isn't in the Cubs' lineup for Saturday's game against the Rockies.
Amaya has been in a bit of a slump at the plate lately, going just 1-for-21 over his last eight games. The Cubs will instead put Christian Bethancourt behind the plate Saturday in an effort to find some offensive production from their catcher.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Sitting down Wednesday
Rotowire
Amaya isn't in the Cubs' lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Amaya will sit down for Wednesday's finale after going 1-for-7 with two RBI across the first two games of the series. Christian Bethancourt will catch instead for Jordan Wicks and bat ninth.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Resting Saturday
Rotowire
Amaya isn't in the Cubs' lineup Saturday against the Yankees.
Amaya will get a day to regroup after going 0-for-9 across his last three games. Christian Bethancourt will take over behind the dish and bat ninth.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Not starting Tuesday
Rotowire
Amaya isn't in the Cubs' lineup for Tuesday's game against the Pirates.
Amaya will take a seat Tuesday after going 0-for-3 with a strikeout during a loss in Monday's series opener. Christian Bethancourt will start behind the dish instead and bat ninth.
