Miguel Amaya

Fantasy News

• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Feels fully healthy

  Rotowire Feb 10, 2026

  Amaya (ankle) said his body feels "100 percent, good to go" heading into the World Baseball Classic and the regular season, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. Amaya had an injury-riddled 2025 campaign, with a sprained ankle in mid-August ultimately shutting him down. Before that, the catcher missed about two and a half months due to an oblique strain. Overall, Amaya managed to appear in only 28 games for the Cubs. He said he feels recovered now, and the backstop is prepared to play for Panama in the upcoming WBC as a ramp-up to the regular season. The 26-year-old did muster a career-best .814 OPS last year despite the injuries, and if he can stay healthy, he figures to split time behind the plate with Carson Kelly in 2026. While the arrangement could limit Amaya's ceiling, he still has the offensive talent to take a step forward from a fantasy perspective, particularly if Kelly slumps or gets hurt.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Unlikely to play in playoffs

  Rotowire Oct 6, 2025

  Amaya (ankle) rejoined the Cubs following the end of the minor-league season and is considered healthy and available to play, but Chicago has no current plans to activate him for their playoff run, MLB.com reports. Amaya missed two and a half months earlier in the season while recovering from a left oblique strain, then landed back on the injured list in mid-August after spraining his left ankle in his first game back in action with the Cubs. The 26-year-old backstop was able to play in four rehab games with Triple-A Iowa before the minor-league concluded, but Chicago didn't activate him from the IL until after the regular season ended. Amaya is seemingly fully healed from the ankle injury, but unless the Cubs lose one of Carson Kelly or Reese McGuire at any point during the playoffs, Amaya doesn't look as though he'll play again in 2025.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Ready for rehab assignment

  Rotowire Sep 16, 2025

  Amaya (ankle) is set to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, MLB.com reports. Amaya isn't considered fully recovered from the left ankle sprain he suffered Aug. 13, which he sustained in his first game back from the injured list after he had been shelved since late May due to a left oblique strain. However, Amaya has made enough progress in his recovery from the ankle injury to run the bases, so he'll serve as a designated hitter for Iowa on Tuesday. Manager Craig Counsell is hopeful that Amaya will resume catching for Iowa later in the week, and if all goes well, the 26-year-old could rejoin the Cubs for the final week of the regular season.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Ramping up slowly

  Rotowire Aug 25, 2025

  Amaya (ankle) has started running on a treadmill but is "still weeks away" from a return, manager Craig Counsell said, per MLB.com. Amaya was carted off the field after stepping awkwardly on first base and spraining his ankle during a game on Aug. 13. It was a tough break for the catcher, who was making his first appearance for the Cubs since May 24 after recovering from an oblique injury. Amaya may be able to help Chicago late in the season and in the playoffs, though fantasy managers shouldn't expect much more from the 26-year-old in 2025.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Lands back on IL

  Rotowire Aug 14, 2025

  The Cubs placed Amaya (ankle) on the 10-day injured list Thursday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. After making his return to action in Wednesday's win over the Blue Jays following an extended stay on the 60-day IL due to an oblique strain, Amaya sprained his left ankle when he landed awkwardly on first base. He had to be carted off the field, and while X-rays returned negative, Amaya could require additional testing as the Cubs look to determine the severity of his ankle sprain. With Amaya back on the shelf, Carson Kelly will continue serving as the Cubs' primary catcher and will be backed up by Reese McGuire.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Headed back to IL

  Rotowire Aug 13, 2025

  Manager Craig Counsell said after Wednesday's win over Toronto that Amaya was diagnosed with a sprained left ankle, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports. Amaya needed to be carted off the field after stepping awkwardly on first base in the eighth inning. X-rays came back negative after the incident, but Counsell confirmed that the catcher's sprained ankle will be enough to force him back on the injured list just two days after returning from a significant oblique injury. Carson Kelly and Reese McGuire will likely resume splitting reps behind the plate while Amaya is out.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Back from IL

  Rotowire Aug 12, 2025

  The Cubs activated Amaya (oblique) from the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Amaya has been sidelined since May 25 due to a left oblique strain. With Amaya's return, the Cubs have opted to keep three catchers on the 26-man roster, with Amaya joining Carson Kelly and Reese McGuire. Jon Berti was designated for assignment in a corresponding move. Prior to his injury, Amaya was slashing .280/.313/.505 with four home runs, 25 RBI, 14 runs scored and a 4:22 BB:K across 100 plate appearances. He had been well on his way to a career year at the dish.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Likely to return next week

  Rotowire Aug 6, 2025

  Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that he expects Amaya (oblique) to return from the 60-day injured list ahead of the team's series in Toronto early next week, Mike McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald reports. Amaya has been shelved since May 25 due to a left oblique strain but is nearing the finish line in his recovery after he was cleared to begin a rehab assignment July 22. After spending the first three games of his assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League, Amaya has moved up to Triple-A Iowa for his last six contests and has gone 5-for-16 with a 2:4 BB:K and no extra-base hits during that stretch. Once he's reinstated from the IL, Amaya will likely displace Reese McGuire as the top backup to No. 1 catcher Carson Kelly.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Shifts to 60-day IL

  Rotowire Jul 31, 2025

  Amaya (oblique) was moved to the 60-day injured list Thursday, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports. Amaya has been sidelined since May 25 with an oblique issue but has been on a rehab assignment since July 21. This move shouldn't affect his timeline to return significantly, but it does open a short-term spot on the 40-man roster for Willi Castro.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Shifts rehab to Triple-A

  Rotowire Jul 31, 2025

  After playing in three rehab games for the Cubs' Arizona Complex League affiliate last week, Amaya (oblique) shifted his assignment to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday and has appeared in two additional contests. Amaya has gone just 2-for-11 during his rehab assignment, but the important thing is that he appears healthy and hasn't experienced any setbacks. The catcher is likely nearing a return to the majors in the near future. Amaya should slot in as Carson Kelly's backup when he's back with Chicago, though the former will still see his fair share of playing time. The 26-year-old was slashing .280/.313/.505 through 27 games before getting hurt.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Rehab assignment starting Thursday

  Rotowire Jul 21, 2025

  Amaya (oblique) is expected to begin a rehab assignment Thursday, MLB.com reports. It's not clear which affiliate Amaya will be assigned to, but it will be his first game action since he went down with a left oblique strain in late May. Amaya is expected to require a week's worth of rehab games, setting him up to return at the beginning of August if all goes well. Upon his return, Amaya is likely to operate in a backup role behind starting catcher Carson Kelly.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Rehab assignment likely coming soon

  Rotowire Jul 14, 2025

  Amaya (oblique) will likely begin a rehab assignment after the All-Star break and is expected to need about a week's worth of games before returning to the Cubs, MLB.com reports. Amaya has taken batting practice and completed a few bullpen catching sessions in his rehab work so far, but he's yet to see live game action since landing on the injured list with a left oblique injury on May 24. The backstop now appears to be one step closer to returning to the majors, and when he does, he'll compete with Carson Kelly for work behind the plate, though Kelly has played well this year and is likely to remain Chicago's No. 1 catcher for the time being. Amaya compiled a .280/.313/.505 slash line with four home runs and 25 RBI in 27 games before getting injured.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Begins hitting program

  Rotowire Jun 23, 2025

  Amaya (oblique) has started a hitting program, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports. Amaya began a throwing program June 15, and he has now started to do work from the plate as well. Manager Craig Counsell said Monday that the team is targeting a return for the catcher around the All-Star break. Amaya has been on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique injury since May 24, but he appears to be on the cusp of launching a minor-league rehab assignment.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Out several weeks

  Rotowire May 27, 2025

  Manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday that Amaya (oblique) will likely be out for another 4-to-6 weeks, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Amaya landed on the injured list Sunday with a strained left oblique, and the results of his MRI confirmed that he will need to spend an extended period of time on the IL. Counsell said the team hopes to have the 26-year-old back before the All-Star break. Until then, Carson Kelly (illness) will likely see the bulk of starts behind the dish with Reese McGuire filling in occasionally.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Goes on IL

  Rotowire May 25, 2025

  The Cubs placed Amaya (oblique) on the 10-day injured list Sunday. Amaya suffered a left oblique strain during Saturday's 6-4 loss to the Reds. He'll be eligible to rejoin the big club June 4, but given the nature of the injury, he will most likely be out beyond the minimum 10 days. The Cubs called up Reese McGuire from Triple-A Iowa to provide another option behind the plate, but Carson Kelly is likely to see the bulk of the starts at catcher while Amaya is on the shelf.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Exits with trainer

  Rotowire May 24, 2025

  Amaya was removed from Saturday's game against the Reds due to a left oblique strain, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports. Amaya had to come out of the game after throwing to second base on an Elly De La Cruz steal attempt. The 26-year-old backstop has been splitting time fairly evenly behind the plate with Carson Kelly, though the latter could take on an everyday role if Amaya's injury forces him onto the injured list.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Slugs homer, plates five

  Rotowire May 19, 2025

  Amaya went 2-for-3 with a homer, a double, five RBI and an additional run scored in Monday's 8-7 loss to the Marlins. The 26-year-old went yard for the fourth time this season with a three-run homer off Miami starter Edward Cabrera in the fourth. Amaya then returned in the sixth inning to knot the game at 6-6 with a two-RBI double, his ninth two-bagger of the season. Although Amaya is not the everyday catcher in Chicago, he has been a solid contributor at the plate when playing with a .287/.323/.529 slash line through 94 plate appearances.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Enters lineup Monday

  Rotowire May 12, 2025

  Amaya is starting at catcher and batting eighth in Monday's game against the Marlins. The Cubs are mixing things up a bit with Ian Happ (oblique) out for the third straight day, as regular DH Seiya Suzuki is covering Happ's spot in the outfield. Carson Kelly is sliding in as the DH on Monday, which opens up a start behind the plate for Amaya. While he hasn't been able to match Kelly's scintillating 1.151 OPS, Amaya has been a reliable offensive performer with a .741 OPS, three home runs and 18 RBI across 21 games.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Belts first homer

  Rotowire Apr 13, 2025

  Amaya went 2-for-3 with a home run, three total runs and three total RBI against the Dodgers in a 16-0 victory Saturday. Amaya didn't start the contest, but he was moved into the DH role after Seiya Suzuki exited in the fifth inning due to a wrist injury. Amaya took advantage of the opportunity, knocking a two-run single and a solo home run. Fellow backstop Carson Kelly had a big day of his own with two homers, and the duo has split catching duties pretty evenly of late, with Amaya getting the start behind the plate in four of the team's past eight games.

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• Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Resting Friday

  Rotowire Mar 28, 2025

  Amaya is not in the Cubs' starting lineup against the Diamondbacks on Friday. Amaya drove in five runs during Thursday's 10-6 win over Arizona. He'll get a break Friday while Carson Kelly serves behind home plate and bats ninth against Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly.

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