The Baltimore Orioles have acquired infielder Jacob Amaya off waivers from the Chicago White Sox.
Amaya, once a top-10 prospect in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ farm system, was traded to the Miami Marlins in 2023 for veteran infielder Miguel Rojas. He made his MLB debut that year but was designated for assignment and traded to the Houston Astros at the start of the 2024 season.
The Astros also designated Amaya for assignment in August, after which the Chicago White Sox claimed him off waivers. He appeared in 23 games for the White Sox, hitting .179 with three RBI, one stolen base, a .419 OPS, and a 0.0 WAR. Defensively, Amaya impressed with three defensive runs saved at shortstop.
In the minors, Amaya has a .251 batting average and a .741 OPS, averaging 15 home runs, 80 RBI, and 11 stolen bases per 162 games.
At 26 years old, Amaya is unlikely to secure a starting role with the Baltimore Orioles, given the presence of Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, and Jordan Westburg in the infield. Even competing for a bench spot against Ramón Urías could be challenging. However, with Jorge Mateo recovering from elbow surgery and potentially limited during Spring Training, Amaya may have a chance to secure a fringe roster spot if the Orioles carry two backup infielders to start the season.
While Mateo’s return and the eventual promotion of top prospect Coby Mayo could limit Amaya’s long-term role in Baltimore, he might still contribute in the short term before potentially moving on again.
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