Miguel Amaya

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #9 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Amaya signed with the Cubs for $1 million after a decorated amateur career in Panama and made the Futures Game in 2018 and 2019. His rise was halted by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2021, but he returned midway through the 2022 season and picked up where he left off. Amaya posted an .864 OPS in 28 games for Double-A Tennessee while serving as a DH, but a Lisfranc fracture in his left foot abruptly cut his return short in mid September.
  
  Scouting Report: Amaya is a patient hitter who identifies pitches early out of the hand and rarely chases. He routinely gets ahead in counts and forces pitchers to throw the ball over the plate, earning him good pitches to hit. Amaya takes big, powerful cuts when he swings, but he struggles to elevate and frequently hits the ball on the ground. He has plus-plus raw power and can hit balls out to any part of the park, but he'll need to get the ball in the air more to reach his potential as a fringe-average hitter with above-average power. He crushes fastballs but struggles against breaking balls. Amaya used his rehab time to improve his conditioning and shed excess fat from his frame. Once an overly large backstop, he is now a sleeker, more explosive athlete. He was an average receiver and blocker with a plus arm before surgery, but it remains to be seen where he is now defensively with his new physique and surgically repaired elbow.
  
  The Future: Amaya remains the Cubs' catcher of the future with Willson Contreras reaching free agency following the 2022 season. Amaya will move to Triple-A in 2023 and could make his big league debut during the season.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 45. Power: 55. Speed: 30. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #12 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Amaya starred for Panama at international tournaments throughout his youth and signed with the Cubs for $1 million in 2015. He received back-to-back Futures Game selections in 2018-19 and was invited to the alternate training site in 2020. Amaya opened 2021 at Double-A, but he played just 23 games before going on the injured list with forearm tightness in early June. He had a setback during his rehab and ultimately had Tommy John surgery in November.
  
  Scouting Report: When healthy, Amaya is a well-rounded catcher who makes an impact on both sides of the ball. He is an extremely disciplined hitter who recognizes pitches and stays in the strike zone. He swings at the right pitches and has above-average power, but he frequently hits the ball on the ground and will have to learn to elevate more. Amaya is a big, physical presence behind the plate defensively. His receiving and framing are average and he is a good blocker who keeps the ball in front of him. He shut down running games with a quick exchange and plus arm strength prior to surgery.
  
  The Future: Amaya’s surgery will keep him out all of the 2022 season. He is scheduled to return in 2023.
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #4 prospect in 2021
  Hitting: 50. Power: 55. Running: 30. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Amaya starred for Panama in international tournaments as an amateur and signed with the Cubs for $1 million in 2015. He quickly stood out and represented the Cubs in both the 2018 and 2019 Futures Games, then impressed manager David Ross with his physicality and work ethic during major league spring training in 2020. Amaya spent the summer at the Cubs’ alternate training site gaining experience working with older pitchers.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Amaya is a big, physical backstop who looks the part of a major league catcher. He matured greatly at the alternate site camp and improved his focus, motivation and investment on defense, helping his receiving and pitch framing improve to average. He has a quick exchange and a plus arm that shuts down running games. Amaya is a patient hitter who controls the strike zone and swings at the right pitches. He has the strength to hit 20 or more home runs, but he frequently hits the ball on the ground and is still learning to elevate.
  
  THE FUTURE: Cubs officials were pleased with Amaya’s improved work ethic behind the plate at the alternate site camp. That development has him in line to be the Cubs’ catcher of the future.
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #4 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: The Cubs thought enough of Amaya's combination of defensive and offensive skills to give him a $1 million signing bonus out of Panama. He's moved a level per year since signing, with full seasons at low Class A South Bend and high Class A Myrtle Beach in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Amaya has represented the Cubs at the Futures Game in each of the past two seasons as well.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Slowly but surely, Amaya is developing into the player the Cubs envisioned. He spent 2019 adjusting his approach to hit the ball in the air more often. The concept is a tough sell at Myrtle Beach, where flyballs don't get rewarded as often as at other parks. Amaya's 11 home runs fell one short of the career high he set in 2018, but he did so in 73 fewer at-bats. Notably, Amaya opened the season as the youngest position player in the Carolina League. He can get overaggressive and get himself out early in counts, which is another area he'll work to improve. Amaya has work to do behind the plate, where he's still a bit of crude receiver. He has the arm strength to produce pop times of just more than 2.0 seconds and caught 35 percent of attempted basestealers.
  
  THE FUTURE: After a full year at high Class A plus time in the Arizona Fall League, Amaya should move to Double-A Tennessee in 2020. He projects as a solid but not spectacular everyday catcher.
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #2 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: After a strong showing in 15U tournaments for Panama, t The Cubs liked Amaya's combination of advanced defensive skills and hitting ability and signed him for $1 million out of Panama in 2015. They skipped him over the Rookie-level Arizona League straight to short-season Eugene in 2017, where he ranked as the league's No. 16 prospect. He broke out during the first half of 2018 at low Class A South Bend, when he hit .288/.365/.500 with nine home runs and earned a spot in the annual Futures Game. but his production tailed off in the second half because of his jump in workload. His 116 games played in 2018 matched his totals from the previous two seasons combined.
  
  Scouting Report: Before wearing down in the Midwest League, Amaya used a loose, compact swing to spray line drives from gap to gap. He showed the typical weaknesses expected from a 19-year-old getting his first test at full-season ball, including a need to better recognize spin. He hit fastballs well, and showed home run power mainly to his pull side, though not exclusively. Evaluators expect above-average power in the future, though that forecast could change as his pitch recognition improves. He's a calm receiver and with strong hands that help him steal strikes for his pitchers. He does especially well bringing low pitches back into the bottom part of the zone. He's got above-average arm strength but needs to clean up his footwork, though he still threw out 34 percent of runners in the Midwest League.
  
  The Future: After a career-high workload, Amaya will begin 2019 with high Class A Myrtle Beach, where he'll try to prove that his first half in 2018 wasn't a fluke.
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #22 prospect in 2018
  Amaya had a strong amateur track record, representing his native Panama in 15U tournaments in 2013-14. That helped convince the Cubs to sign him for $1 million in the 2015 class, and the club pushed him in 2017, promoting him to short-season Eugene for his U.S. debut. Amaya's defense ranks ahead of his offense at this point, which helped him make such a jump as a teen catcher. His intangibles fit the position; he has leadership skills, plays with energy and has the desire to catch. He also has catch-and-throw skills, with soft hands and the agility to block balls in the dirt. His arm strength was just fringy when he signed but has improved to average with 2.0-second pop times, and he threw out 41 percent of basestealers. Amaya is more raw on the offensive side of the ball, but he's shown more raw power than expected, as his 14 doubles led Eugene. He's a bit of a free swinger at this point, but he has offensive upside. A potential two-way catcher, Amaya is the best catching prospect in the system's lower levels and should advance to low Class A South Bend.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Carolina League #11 prospect in 2019
  Amaya handled himself well as a 20-year-old in a league full of talented catchers. He continues to improve his receiving and presentation behind the plate, and he already has good patience as a hitter. "He did a few things great,” Winston-Salem manager Justin Jirschele said. "I definitely see that the tools are there. He has a raw bat, but he’s getting an idea of the strike zone as he grows and matures.” Scouts graded Amaya highly for his bat control and ability to hit to the big part of the field, which unfortunately for hitters is bigger at Myrtle Beach than most minor league parks. His catching remains behind his hitting, but his now-200-plus-pound frame has become more of the ideal size for a catcher. He also has good pop times between 2.01 and 2.05 seconds on throws to second base.
• 
  Ranked Midwest League #12 prospect in 2018
  This was a very good year for catchers in the Midwest League. Between Hernandez, Amaya, Ryan Jeffers, Hendrik Clementina and Luis Campusano, the league was full of intriguing young catchers. Amaya was among the most interesting. Amaya took a big step forward this year with his power, as he hit nine home runs and slugged .500 in the first half of the season before wearing down in the second half. Amaya does chase out of the strike zone too often and needs to improve his ability to recognize breaking balls, but he has future average or even above-average power. Defensively, Amaya has an above-average arm, is a calm receiver who has a chance to be at least an average defender. Considering his age and tools, he has a chance to be the rare catcher who contributes both offensively and defensively.
• 
  Ranked Northwest League #16 prospect in 2017
  The Cubs challenged the 18-year-old Amaya by moving him from the Dominican Summer league all the way to Eugene for the 2017 season. Playing against college-aged competition, Amaya battled some inconsistency at the plate, but manager Jose Feliciano said he was impressed with the improvements the young catcher made throughout the season. Amaya still has a ways to go offensively. The righthanded hitter has some pop in his bat and the chance to hit for power, but he'll need to cut down on swings and misses in order to access it. Amaya has smooth actions behind the plate and an average throwing arm. He still needs to improve his game-calling skills, but he should have little problem sticking as a catcher. Amaya is far from his ceiling, but his defensive ability gives him a higher floor. If he's able to more consistently tap into his power, he could develop into an impact player behind the dish.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Amaya signed with the Cubs for $1 million after a decorated amateur career in Panama and made the Futures Game in 2018 and 2019. His rise was halted by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2021, but he returned midway through the 2022 season and picked up where he left off. Amaya posted an .864 OPS in 28 games for Double-A Tennessee while serving as a DH, but a Lisfranc fracture in his left foot abruptly cut his return short in mid September.
  
  Scouting Report: Amaya is a patient hitter who identifies pitches early out of the hand and rarely chases. He routinely gets ahead in counts and forces pitchers to throw the ball over the plate, earning him good pitches to hit. Amaya takes big, powerful cuts when he swings, but he struggles to elevate and frequently hits the ball on the ground. He has plus-plus raw power and can hit balls out to any part of the park, but he'll need to get the ball in the air more to reach his potential as a fringe-average hitter with above-average power. He crushes fastballs but struggles against breaking balls. Amaya used his rehab time to improve his conditioning and shed excess fat from his frame. Once an overly large backstop, he is now a sleeker, more explosive athlete. He was an average receiver and blocker with a plus arm before surgery, but it remains to be seen where he is now defensively with his new physique and surgically repaired elbow.
  
  The Future: Amaya remains the Cubs' catcher of the future with Willson Contreras reaching free agency following the 2022 season. Amaya will move to Triple-A in 2023 and could make his big league debut during the season.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 45. Power: 55. Speed: 30. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Amaya signed with the Cubs for $1 million after a decorated amateur career in Panama and made the Futures Game in 2018 and 2019. His rise was halted by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2021, but he returned midway through the 2022 season and picked up where he left off. Amaya posted an .864 OPS in 28 games for Double-A Tennessee while serving as a DH, but a Lisfranc fracture in his left foot abruptly cut his return short in mid September.
  
  Scouting Report: Amaya is a patient hitter who identifies pitches early out of the hand and rarely chases. He routinely gets ahead in counts and forces pitchers to throw the ball over the plate, earning him good pitches to hit. Amaya takes big, powerful cuts when he swings, but he struggles to elevate and frequently hits the ball on the ground. He has plus-plus raw power and can hit balls out to any part of the park, but he'll need to get the ball in the air more to reach his potential as a fringe-average hitter with above-average power. He crushes fastballs but struggles against breaking balls. Amaya used his rehab time to improve his conditioning and shed excess fat from his frame. Once an overly large backstop, he is now a sleeker, more explosive athlete. He was an average receiver and blocker with a plus arm before surgery, but it remains to be seen where he is now defensively with his new physique and surgically repaired elbow.
  
  The Future: Amaya remains the Cubs' catcher of the future with Willson Contreras reaching free agency following the 2022 season. Amaya will move to Triple-A in 2023 and could make his big league debut during the season.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 45. Power: 55. Speed: 30. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  Track Record:: Amaya starred for Panama at international tournaments throughout his youth and signed with the Cubs for $1 million in 2015. He received back-to-back Futures Game selections in 2018-19 and was invited to the alternate training site in 2020. Amaya opened 2021 at Double-A, but he played just 23 games before going on the injured list with forearm tightness in early June. He had a setback during his rehab and ultimately had Tommy John surgery in November.
  
  Scouting Report: When healthy, Amaya is a well-rounded catcher who makes an impact on both sides of the ball. He is an extremely disciplined hitter who recognizes pitches and stays in the strike zone. He swings at the right pitches and has above-average power, but he frequently hits the ball on the ground and will have to learn to elevate more. Amaya is a big, physical presence behind the plate defensively. His receiving and framing are average and he is a good blocker who keeps the ball in front of him. He shut down running games with a quick exchange and plus arm strength prior to surgery.
  
  The Future: Amaya&#39s surgery will keep him out all of the 2022 season. He is scheduled to return in 2023.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Amaya starred for Panama at international tournaments throughout his youth and signed with the Cubs for $1 million in 2015. He received back-to-back Futures Game selections in 2018-19 and was invited to the alternate training site in 2020. Amaya opened 2021 at Double-A, but he played just 23 games before going on the injured list with forearm tightness in early June. He had a setback during his rehab and ultimately had Tommy John surgery in November.
  
  Scouting Report: When healthy, Amaya is a well-rounded catcher who makes an impact on both sides of the ball. He is an extremely disciplined hitter who recognizes pitches and stays in the strike zone. He swings at the right pitches and has above-average power, but he frequently hits the ball on the ground and will have to learn to elevate more. Amaya is a big, physical presence behind the plate defensively. His receiving and framing are average and he is a good blocker who keeps the ball in front of him. He shut down running games with a quick exchange and plus arm strength prior to surgery.
  
  The Future: Amaya’s surgery will keep him out all of the 2022 season. He is scheduled to return in 2023.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 50. Power: 55. Running: 30. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Amaya starred for Panama in international tournaments as an amateur and signed with the Cubs for $1 million in 2015. He quickly stood out and represented the Cubs in both the 2018 and 2019 Futures Games, then impressed manager David Ross with his physicality and work ethic during major league spring training in 2020. Amaya spent the summer at the Cubs' alternate training site gaining experience working with older pitchers.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Amaya is a big, physical backstop who looks the part of a major league catcher. He matured greatly at the alternate site camp and improved his focus, motivation and investment on defense, helping his receiving and pitch framing improve to average. He has a quick exchange and a plus arm that shuts down running games. Amaya is a patient hitter who controls the strike zone and swings at the right pitches. He has the strength to hit 20 or more home runs, but he frequently hits the ball on the ground and is still learning to elevate.
  
  THE FUTURE: Cubs officials were pleased with Amaya's improved work ethic behind the plate at the alternate site camp. That development has him in line to be the Cubs' catcher of the future.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 50. Power: 55. Running: 30. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Amaya starred for Panama in international tournaments as an amateur and signed with the Cubs for $1 million in 2015. He quickly stood out and represented the Cubs in both the 2018 and 2019 Futures Games, then impressed manager David Ross with his physicality and work ethic during major league spring training in 2020. Amaya spent the summer at the Cubs’ alternate training site gaining experience working with older pitchers.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Amaya is a big, physical backstop who looks the part of a major league catcher. He matured greatly at the alternate site camp and improved his focus, motivation and investment on defense, helping his receiving and pitch framing improve to average. He has a quick exchange and a plus arm that shuts down running games. Amaya is a patient hitter who controls the strike zone and swings at the right pitches. He has the strength to hit 20 or more home runs, but he frequently hits the ball on the ground and is still learning to elevate.
  
  THE FUTURE: Cubs officials were pleased with Amaya’s improved work ethic behind the plate at the alternate site camp. That development has him in line to be the Cubs’ catcher of the future.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 50. Power: 55. Running: 30. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Amaya starred for Panama in international tournaments as an amateur and signed with the Cubs for $1 million in 2015. He quickly stood out and represented the Cubs in both the 2018 and 2019 Futures Games, then impressed manager David Ross with his physicality and work ethic during major league spring training in 2020. Amaya spent the summer at the Cubs’ alternate training site gaining experience working with older pitchers.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Amaya is a big, physical backstop who looks the part of a major league catcher. He matured greatly at the alternate site camp and improved his focus, motivation and investment on defense, helping his receiving and pitch framing improve to average. He has a quick exchange and a plus arm that shuts down running games. Amaya is a patient hitter who controls the strike zone and swings at the right pitches. He has the strength to hit 20 or more home runs, but he frequently hits the ball on the ground and is still learning to elevate.
  
  THE FUTURE: Cubs officials were pleased with Amaya’s improved work ethic behind the plate at the alternate site camp. That development has him in line to be the Cubs’ catcher of the future.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Cubs thought enough of Amaya’s combination of defensive and offensive skills to give him a $1 million signing bonus out of Panama. He’s moved a level per year since signing, with full seasons at low Class A South Bend and high Class A Myrtle Beach in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Amaya has represented the Cubs at the Futures Game in each of the past two seasons as well.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Slowly but surely, Amaya is developing into the player the Cubs envisioned. He spent 2019 adjusting his approach to hit the ball in the air more often. The concept is a tough sell at Myrtle Beach, where flyballs don’t get rewarded as often as at other parks. Amaya’s 11 home runs fell one short of the career high he set in 2018, but he did so in 73 fewer at-bats. Notably, Amaya opened the season as the youngest position player in the Carolina League. He can get overaggressive and get himself out early in counts, which is another area he’ll work to improve. Amaya has work to do behind the plate, where he’s still a bit of crude receiver. He has the arm strength to produce pop times of just more than 2.0 seconds and caught 35 percent of attempted basestealers.
  
  THE FUTURE: After a full year at high Class A plus time in the Arizona Fall League, Amaya should move to Double-A Tennessee in 2020. He projects as a solid but not spectacular everyday catcher.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Cubs thought enough of Amaya's combination of defensive and offensive skills to give him a $1 million signing bonus out of Panama. He's moved a level per year since signing, with full seasons at low Class A South Bend and high Class A Myrtle Beach in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Amaya has represented the Cubs at the Futures Game in each of the past two seasons as well.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Slowly but surely, Amaya is developing into the player the Cubs envisioned. He spent 2019 adjusting his approach to hit the ball in the air more often. The concept is a tough sell at Myrtle Beach, where flyballs don't get rewarded as often as at other parks. Amaya's 11 home runs fell one short of the career high he set in 2018, but he did so in 73 fewer at-bats. Notably, Amaya opened the season as the youngest position player in the Carolina League. He can get overaggressive and get himself out early in counts, which is another area he'll work to improve. Amaya has work to do behind the plate, where he's still a bit of crude receiver. He has the arm strength to produce pop times of just more than 2.0 seconds and caught 35 percent of attempted basestealers.
  
  THE FUTURE: After a full year at high Class A plus time in the Arizona Fall League, Amaya should move to Double-A Tennessee in 2020. He projects as a solid but not spectacular everyday catcher.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Amaya handled himself well as a 20-year-old in a league full of talented catchers. He continues to improve his receiving and presentation behind the plate, and he already has good patience as a hitter. "He did a few things great,” Winston-Salem manager Justin Jirschele said. "I definitely see that the tools are there. He has a raw bat, but he’s getting an idea of the strike zone as he grows and matures.” Scouts graded Amaya highly for his bat control and ability to hit to the big part of the field, which unfortunately for hitters is bigger at Myrtle Beach than most minor league parks. His catching remains behind his hitting, but his now-200-plus-pound frame has become more of the ideal size for a catcher. He also has good pop times between 2.01 and 2.05 seconds on throws to second base.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  After showing potential in 2017 with short-season Eugene, Amaya’s all-around game has taken big steps forward this year. He built a reputation as a free-swinger but has started putting together better at-bats in the Midwest League. He’s hitting for both average and power now, with 12 home runs for South Bend, and earned a selection to the Futures Game. Amaya has been a solid receiver this year and shown off an above-average arm that could be further amplified by improved mechanics on his release and transfer.