Latest news with #MiguelAmaya
Washington Post
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Reese McGuire hits home run in first at-bat for Cubs after being called up
CINCINNATI — Reese McGuire added another milestone to what has been a hectic 10 days. McGuire hit a home run in his first at-bat for the Chicago Cubs during the second inning of Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. The 30-year-old catcher was brought up from Triple-A Iowa and added to the 40-man roster after Miguel Amaya was placed on the injured list with a left oblique strain.
Reuters
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Cubs place C Miguel Amaya (oblique) on 10-day IL
May 25 - The Chicago Cubs placed Miguel Amaya on the 10-day injured list Sunday morning and selected fellow catcher Reese McGuire from Triple-A Iowa. The move involving Amaya was expected after he sustained a left oblique strain on a throw to second base during the fifth inning of Chicago's 6-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday. Veteran Carson Kelly is expected to move into the starting job. "It was my normal throw to second base but it felt weird there," Amaya told reporters after the game. "I felt discomfort. I tried to throw again and sadly couldn't keep in the game. It's sad I am going to be out, I don't know how long. We will wait for the results and see what is going on in there." Amaya, 26, is batting .280 with four home runs and 25 RBIs in 27 games this season. McGuire, 30, has played in 355 career games with the Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox. He is batting .280 with three homers and 19 RBIs in 22 games this season with Iowa. --Field Level Media
New York Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Miguel Amaya exits with injury in Cubs loss, a blow to one of MLB's best catching duos
Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya exited in the fifth inning of Saturday's 6-4 loss to the Reds in Cincinnati with a left oblique strain, a blow to one of the best catching duos in baseball. After the game, manager Craig Counsell told media in Cincinnati that Amaya would be headed to the injured list. It wasn't long ago that the Cubs' catching situation appeared irreparable, with Amaya's development seemingly stalled. At the start of last July, the position was producing a 32 wRC+ for the team, 29th in baseball. The combined minus-1.9 fWAR was dead last. Advertisement 'Those numbers, when you're at the bottom of the league, that just hurts,' Counsell said earlier this season. 'That hurts team offense, for sure. At that position, when you can be a real difference maker offensively, that's impactful. No question about it.' Team president Jed Hoyer searched for long-term upgrades at the spot at the trade deadline last season — including a pursuit of the Los Angeles Angels' Logan O'Hoppe — and again made it a priority in the offseason. Finding a young catcher with offensive upside was going to be hard, and it proved to be unrealistic. But Hoyer knew, at minimum, pairing a veteran who could handle a 50-50 split with Amaya was important. It wasn't as if there were a plethora of options to choose from, but the Cubs ended up with Carson Kelly as Amaya's backstop-mate. The results have been better than anyone could have hoped. Entering play Saturday, Cubs catchers had a 161 wRC+, tops in baseball, and their 2.5 fWAR was topped only by Seattle (3.0 fWAR), which boasts arguably the best catcher in baseball in Cal Raleigh. Chicago's catching duo has done this while handling a pitching staff that's battled injuries and has had multiple young arms learning the ropes at the highest level. 'They're both really steady guys,' veteran starter Jameson Taillon said. 'They're really calm when things aren't going well, which is what you look for from leaders.' For batters with at least 80 plate appearances, Kelly leads catchers with a 188 wRC+. Amaya is 10th at 126. Both have already topped 1 WAR, a mark Amaya has never reached in his career and one Kelly has passed just three previous times. 'It's a huge luxury in MLB to have one good catcher because it's such a hard and unique position,' Taillon said. 'But it's a real advantage to have two really good ones. They can give each other days off, and there's no drop-off.' The Cubs have to hope Amaya's injury won't keep him out for an extended period because the duo has seemed to feed off each other. When Kelly stepped in on Saturday, he went 2-for-2 with a home run, showing why the tandem has worked so well and also giving hope that the Cubs can handle what hopefully isn't a long absence for Amaya. Advertisement It's rare for catchers not to get worn down throughout the season, so having a competent backup is important. But the Cubs are getting more than competence, and the reality is there's no backup in this situation. Both catchers are producing at a high level. There seems to be both an understanding and an appreciation of their roles by each player. 'No matter who's in the lineup,' Amaya said, 'we're locked in to do our job on both sides of the game.' The job of a catcher is demanding and sometimes a bit thankless. When working with veterans, a catcher has to make sure they are always on the same page and understand what allows that pitcher to thrive and what buttons to push when. With youngsters such as Cade Horton and Ben Brown, a catcher has to lead the way and make sure they are helping guide developing talents. There is so much to learn as relievers come in and out of games and on and off the roster. They have to do all that while making sure they're able to produce offensively, as well. 'The thing that I've learned over my career is you've got to leave your at-bats after they've happened and focus on the pitchers,' Kelly said. 'It's having that separation. When I put my gear on, it's over. You flip the switch and work on your pitchers. And when I come into the dugout and take my gear off, then it's hitting. Having those physical changes helps me make that adjustment.' The Cubs lead baseball in runs scored (310) and are third in wRC+ (122). Having players such as Kyle Tucker, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki makes everything run. But it's the production from Amaya and Kelly that has helped take this lineup to another level. 'Offensively, they lengthen our lineup,' Taillon said. 'Lots of teams have holes at the end, or from the catcher position. With them, they strengthen and lengthen our lineup big-time. And it's not even the most important thing they do for us compared to their defense and leadership.' Advertisement With Amaya headed for the IL, the Cubs are lucky to have Kelly performing at such a high level. Still, they surely hope Amaya's absence is short so they can continue to put out one of the most imposing catching duos in baseball. (Top photo of Miguel Amaya leaving Saturday's game after being injured in the fifth inning: Dylan Buell / Getty Images)
San Francisco Chronicle
24-05-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya leaves game vs. Reds due to left oblique strain
CINCINNATI (AP) — Chicago Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya left in the fifth inning of Saturday's game against the Cincinnati Reds due to an left oblique strain. Amaya appeared to suffer the injury on a throw when Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz stole second base. Chicago's trainer came out to talk to Amaya after the play. Amaya tried to make a throw to the pitcher to test things out but winced before coming off the field. Michael Kelly entered the game for Amaya. Amaya is batting .286 with four home runs and 25 RBIs in 27 games. He has been splitting time with Kelly behind the plate. ___
Washington Post
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya leaves game vs. Reds due to left oblique strain
CINCINNATI — Chicago Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya left in the fifth inning of Saturday's game against the Cincinnati Reds due to an left oblique strain. Amaya appeared to suffer the injury on a throw when Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz stole second base. Chicago's trainer came out to talk to Amaya after the play. Amaya tried to make a throw to the pitcher to test things out but winced before coming off the field.
