The Houston Astros have made a significant roster move by designating infielder Jacob Amaya for assignment. Amaya, a former prospect for the Los Angeles Dodgers , joined the Astros in a trade with the Miami Marlins earlier this season.
However, his time with Houston has been brief, as he only appeared in one game, serving as a defensive substitute during a loss to the New York Yankees.
This season, the 25-year-old was slashing .221/.308/.330 over 302 plate appearances, split between the Triple-A teams of the Astros and Marlins.
The Astros announced several roster changes, including the signing of Hector Neris, the optioning of Seth Martinez and Shawn Dubin to Triple-A, and the reinstatement of Kaleb Ort from the paternity list.
Amaya's journey this year has been tumultuous. He started with the Marlins' Triple-A affiliate but was designated for assignment after just three games. Following that, he spent a week in a hotel in Durham, North Carolina, awaiting news on his future.
On April 6, he received a call from the Marlins' general manager, informing him of the trade to the Astros in exchange for a minor league pitcher and cash.
Amaya spent most of 2023 with Triple-A Jacksonville, where he had a solid season, hitting .252 with 26 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs, and 65 RBIs in 128 games.
"It was a relief, just to hear something," Amaya shared on May 2 . "But coming to a winning organization, that’s everything. So I just stayed ready."
After being called up to the Astros on May 1 due to injuries to other players, Amaya was expected to provide depth at multiple infield positions. However, with the return of regular players, his opportunities dwindled.
Amaya provided the Astros with much-needed depth at second base, shortstop, and third base, as Jose Altuve, Jeremy Peña, and Alex Bregman had played nearly every game of the season.
Manager Joe Espada told the Houston Chronicle on May 2 that he needed to give his regulars a day off, and Amaya fit the role perfectly as a versatile fill-in.
Originally drafted by the Dodgers in the 11th round of the 2017 draft, Amaya spent five seasons with Los Angeles before being traded to Miami. He made his major league debut with the Marlins in 2023, appearing in four games.
This marks Amaya's first designation for assignment. If he clears waivers, he will be sent to Triple-A and cannot refuse the assignment due to his lack of prior outright experience and MLB service time.
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