Miguel Amaya was choosing up groceries Monday evening at a fuel station in Huntsville, Ala., when he acquired an surprising name.
Double-A Tennessee supervisor Michael Ryan summoned Amaya to the group lodge and knowledgeable the 24-year-old catcher he wouldn’t be within the Smokies lineup Tuesday. Instead, a flight to Washington within the morning to hitch the Chicago Cubs awaited Amaya, who earned his first big-league call-up.
“It hasn’t been easy,” Amaya mentioned in entrance of his locker within the guests clubhouse at Nationals Park. “It’s been a roller coaster, ups and downs. A lot of work mentally, of course physically … so happy to be here joining the team and being with this beautiful team.”
Amaya initially was on the taxi squad when he arrived on the ballpark however was knowledgeable shortly after he was being added to the lively roster. The Cubs designated left-hander Ryan Borucki for task because the corresponding transfer. Catcher Yan Gomes continues to be evaluated after being struck within the head on a backswing through the first inning Monday.
Amaya’s promotion comes after simply 76 minor-league video games and 322 plate appearances since 2019. Between the pandemic and accidents — Tommy John surgical procedure and a Lisfranc harm in his left foot that affected him the final two years — Amaya’s on-field alternatives have been restricted. It doesn’t diminish his standing as one of many group’s high prospects, a younger catcher who may present an all-around influence on the big-league membership.
It’s unclear how lengthy Gomes is likely to be sidelined. If he must go on the concussion injured listing, it requires a seven-day minimal keep. The Cubs anticipated to get a have a look at Amaya someday this season, his final with a minor-league choice.
Amaya’s inconsistent enjoying time the final three years hasn’t appeared to hinder him offensively. He started the season posting a .273 common, .411 on-base proportion and 1.070 OPS at Double A with 4 house runs and 5 doubles in 13 video games.
“At the end of last year I had the chance to play for a little bit, so I kind of got in rhythm by that time,” Amaya mentioned. “So in my mind, I already knew where my swing was. So you just get here, do the simple things and get the quality at-bats and just keep it going every day.”
When Amaya makes his MLB debut, he’ll change into the primary participant from Panama to seem in a sport for the Cubs since right-hander Manny Corpas in 2012 and the primary place participant since infielder/outfielder José Macías in 2005. Amaya’s dad and mom, Max and Anny, are flying in from Panama and can be on the sport Wednesday.
It took an hour for Amaya to get ahold of his dad and mom to share the information Monday evening. When they lastly answered, they had been shocked. Tears flowed on each ends of the telephone name.
“It’s something we’ve been waiting for so long,” Amaya mentioned. “It’s been up and down, like I said, but now we’re here and it’s time to grind.”
The work Amaya put in to get up to now isn’t misplaced on former minor-league teammate Brandon Hughes. They first performed collectively in 2017 at short-season Eugene when Hughes nonetheless was an outfielder. Their careers adopted a parallel monitor, teaming up at then Low-A South Bend (2018) and once more at Tennessee (2021).
It has come full circle, first this spring when Amaya caught Hughes throughout a stay batting apply and now as big-league teammates.
“He’s always had that confidence and he knows exactly what’s going on,” Hughes advised the Tribune. “He’s ready for any moment that happens in a baseball game. It seems like he’s prepared for literally any moment that can present itself.”
The majors will current a very good take a look at of Amaya’s sport planning and receiving abilities, the latter of which stood out to supervisor David Ross the primary time he acquired eyes on Amaya throughout big-league camp in 2020. The soar from the minors is anticipated to problem Amaya and supply a very good gauge for the Cubs of the place he’s in his defensive improvement.
Ross believes the toughest half for a younger big-league catcher is sport calling: studying to learn swings, course of details about the hitter and harness the pitcher’s stuff that day.
“If you’ve got to go off script, where are you going with pitcher strengths or hitters’ weakness, things like that,” Ross mentioned. ”That (comes) from expertise and studying.”
Tucker Barnhart remembers the sensation of his first big-league call-up and desires to be there for Amaya in any approach he’s wanted. Barnhart and Gomes served as priceless sources in big-league camp.
“If Miggy has questions he can obviously ask me — he’s not going to step on my toes (or) offend me or anything,” Barnhart advised the Tribune. “Because at the end of the day, we’re all moving toward one goal and that’s to get our pitchers through the game as best we can — and most importantly to win — so whatever I can do to help him, I’m an open book.”
The Cubs have an thought of Amaya’s upside, however he hasn’t stayed wholesome sufficient to place all of it collectively for an prolonged stretch. His work ethic doesn’t go unnoticed, and it’s the little issues that stand out.
Pitching coach Tommy Hottovy recommended how shortly Amaya acquired up to the mark with the PitchCom communication system, noting he was one of many first to make use of it in stay BPs. Hottovy additionally has observed Amaya’s really feel for what pitchers are able to and trusting the pitchers’ strengths.
Those are all encouraging indicators for a catcher who has began solely 32 video games behind the plate since 2019, none above Double A. Just because the Cubs do with an inexperienced pitcher getting known as up, they need to simplify issues and discuss by conditions as a lot as potential with Amaya.
“When you get in this big environment and your focus starts to widen, you start to want to take all these things in,” Hottovy mentioned, “and that’s necessary to know but in addition proceed to maintain them targeted on the issues which might be going to achieve success for them as a catcher.
“He did a great job in spring of attacking with guys’ strengths and understanding what everybody does well, so the communication, his level of intent and how involved he wants to be is really fun to see.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com