Jacob Amaya

Jacob Carlos Amaya Bio

Jacob Carlos Amaya is an American professional baseball shortstop currently in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. Born on September 3, 1998, in West Covina, California, Amaya has played parts of four seasons in Major League Baseball with the Miami Marlins, Houston Astros, and Chicago White Sox. After being selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2017 MLB Draft, Amaya steadily climbed through the minor leagues before making his MLB debut with Miami in June 2023. His career has been characterized by steady development at the minor league level and brief opportunities at the sport’s highest level.

Early Life and Background

Jacob Amaya grew up in West Covina, California, where he attended South Hills High School. His baseball career began in the youth leagues of the San Gabriel Valley before developing into a legitimate professional prospect during his high school years. The West Covina native demonstrated strong defensive instincts and offensive potential that attracted attention from Major League scouts.

Amaya comes from a baseball family, as his grandfather Frank was also drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers. This family connection to professional baseball provided additional motivation and guidance as the younger Amaya pursued his own dreams of reaching the major leagues. The generational link to the Dodgers organization would later prove significant in his own career trajectory.

Path to Professional Baseball

During his senior year at South Hills High School in 2017, Amaya established himself as one of the top prospects in the Southern California prep baseball scene. His performance as a shortstop, combining solid defensive skills with emerging offensive capabilities, caught the attention of MLB scouts from multiple organizations. The Dodgers saw enough potential to select him in the later rounds of the 2017 MLB Draft.

The Los Angeles Dodgers chose Amaya in the 11th round, with the 340th overall selection, of the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft. Rather than attending college, Amaya signed with the Dodgers and began his professional career immediately after high school graduation. This decision marked the beginning of his journey through the minor league system, where he would spend several years developing his craft before earning his first major league call-up.

Jacob Carlos Amaya Career

Los Angeles Dodgers Organization (2017–2022)

Amaya made his professional debut in 2017 with the rookie-level Arizona League Dodgers, where he appeared in 34 games and hit .254. The adjustment to professional pitching proved manageable for the young shortstop, who gained valuable experience facing older and more experienced players. He spent the following season splitting time between the rookie-level Ogden Raptors and Single-A Great Lakes Loons, hitting .311 in 59 games with the Loons, which demonstrated his ability to make consistent contact at a higher level of competition.

In 2019, Amaya spent 103 games with the Great Lakes Loons before earning a promotion to High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes for 21 games. His combined batting average of .260 across both levels showed his ability to handle the jump in competition. The 2020 season was lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which cancelled the entire minor league season and temporarily halted his development.

Amaya returned in 2021 with the Double-A Tulsa Drillers, playing 113 games and hitting .216 with a .303 on-base percentage and .343 slugging percentage. He set career highs that season with 12 home runs and 47 RBI. Following the regular season, he was assigned to the Glendale Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League, a prestigious offseason league for top prospects. His strong performance in the Fall League led to his addition to the Dodgers 40-man roster, protecting him from the Rule 5 Draft.

In 2022, Amaya split the season between Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers. He combined to hit .261 in 133 games with 17 home runs and 71 RBI, demonstrating his most complete professional season to date. The career-high numbers in games played, home runs, and RBI positioned him as a legitimate candidate for a major league call-up in the near future.

Miami Marlins (2023)

On January 11, 2023, the Dodgers traded Amaya to the Miami Marlins in exchange for veteran infielder Miguel Rojas. The trade represented a significant opportunity for Amaya, as it placed him closer to major league action with a team that had an opening at the shortstop position. The Marlins optioned him to Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp to begin the season.

Amaya performed well in his first season with the Jumbo Shrimp, hitting .278 with a .346 on-base percentage and .472 slugging percentage in 58 games. He added nine home runs and 35 RBI, showcasing the power improvement he had developed in the Dodgers system. On June 17, 2023, the Marlins promoted him to the major leagues for the first time in his career.

Amaya made his MLB debut on June 18, 2023, recording his first major league hit in the game. He appeared in four games for Miami during his initial stint, going 2-for-9 at the plate with no home runs, two RBI, and one stolen base. The brief appearance gave him a taste of major league competition while he continued to refine his game at the Triple-A level.

Houston Astros (2024)

Amaya began the 2024 season with Triple-A Jacksonville but did not remain with the Marlins organization long. On April 2, 2024, he was designated for assignment following Miami’s acquisition of Emmanuel Rivera. The move came just days before he would be traded to Houston.

On April 6, 2024, the Marlins traded Amaya to the Houston Astros in exchange for Valente Bellozo. He made one appearance for the Astros during his brief tenure, flying out against New York Yankees pitcher Ron Marinaccio in his only at-bat. Houston designated Amaya for assignment on August 24, 2024, ending his time with the defending American League champions.

Chicago White Sox (2024–2025)

On August 26, 2024, Amaya was claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox. He appeared in 23 games for Chicago during the remainder of the 2024 season, batting .179 with a .225 on-base percentage and .194 slugging percentage. He recorded no home runs, three RBI, and one stolen base during this initial stint.

The White Sox designated Amaya for assignment on January 8, 2025. He was claimed by the Baltimore Orioles on January 16 but was designated for assignment again following the signing of Dylan Carlson on January 27. Amaya returned to the White Sox on February 3 when he was claimed back off waivers.

During the 2025 season, Amaya appeared in 33 games for the White Sox, batting .097 with a .119 on-base percentage and .113 slugging percentage. He recorded seven RBI and two stolen bases. Chicago designated him for assignment on May 16, and he cleared waivers before being sent outright to Triple-A Charlotte Knights the following day. The White Sox added him back to their active roster on August 7. He went 1-for-4 with one RBI in three games before being designated for assignment on August 15. Amaya cleared waivers and was sent outright to Charlotte on August 18. He elected free agency on October 3, 2025.

Arizona Diamondbacks (2025–Present)

On December 5, 2025, Amaya signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. The move gave him an opportunity to continue his professional career with a new organization while working toward another opportunity at the major league level. He joined a Diamondbacks system that has shown willingness to develop young talent at the shortstop position.

Defensive Profile and Playing Style

Amaya has primarily played shortstop throughout his professional career, showcasing the defensive range and arm strength typically associated with the position. His offensive game has evolved from a contact-heavy approach in his early professional years to demonstrating increased power capability, particularly evident in his 2021 and 2022 seasons with Tulsa and Oklahoma City. He has shown the ability to play multiple infield positions when needed, providing positional flexibility that teams value in utility players.

Notable Career Milestones

Amaya’s career has been highlighted by several significant moments, including his MLB debut with the Miami Marlins on June 18, 2023, where he recorded his first major league hit. His selection to the Arizona Fall League in 2021 represented recognition as one of the top prospects in baseball. The trade for Miguel Rojas in 2023 demonstrated that major league teams viewed him as a valuable asset worth acquiring. His multi-organization journey through five MLB franchises in three years has tested his adaptability and resilience as a professional player.

Jacob Carlos Amaya Career Statistics

Amaya has appeared in parts of four MLB seasons with three different franchises. His career MLB statistics through the 2025 season include a .147 batting average with no home runs and 13 RBI in limited at-bats. The majority of his professional success has come at the minor league level, where he has accumulated over 400 games played across various levels of the minors.

Major League Baseball Highlights

Amaya made his major league debut with the Miami Marlins on June 18, 2023, recording his first hit in his debut game. He appeared in four games with Miami during his rookie season, going 2-for-9 at the plate. His most extensive MLB action came with the Chicago White Sox in 2024 and 2025, where he appeared in 56 combined games. He recorded his first career RBI during his time with the Marlins.

Minor League Career Highlights

Throughout his minor league career, Amaya has demonstrated consistent offensive production at every level. His best professional season came in 2022 with the Double-A Tulsa Drillers and Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, where he combined to hit .261 with 17 home runs and 71 RBI in 133 games. He set career highs in home runs (12) and RBI (47) during his 2021 season with Tulsa. His 2018 season with the Great Lakes Loons saw him hit .311 in 59 games, the highest single-season batting average of his career.

Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Jacob Amaya comes from a baseball family with established ties to professional baseball. His grandfather, Frank Amaya, was also drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers, creating a rare multi-generational connection to the same MLB franchise. This family legacy in baseball has provided Jacob with unique insights into the professional game and the dedication required to reach the major leagues.

Personal Life

Amaya grew up in West Covina, California, maintaining roots in the San Gabriel Valley region throughout his professional career. He has been active on social media, connecting with fans through his Instagram account. When not playing baseball, he has been focused on continuing his development as a player and preparing for his next opportunity at the major league level.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season represented a challenging year for Amaya at the major league level. After beginning the year with the Chicago White Sox organization, he went through multiple roster transactions, including being claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles before returning to Chicago. His time with the White Sox resulted in limited production, as he batted just .097 in 33 appearances. The White Sox optioned him to Triple-A Charlotte on two separate occasions during the season, highlighting the struggles he faced in maintaining a consistent role at the big league level.

Despite the difficulties at the plate, Amaya demonstrated resilience by accepting his assignments to the minor leagues and continuing to work on his game. His season included a brief return to the White Sox active roster in August, where he went 1-for-4 in three games. Following the season, he elected free agency, opening a new chapter in his professional career.

On December 5, 2025, Amaya signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks, giving him a fresh start with a new organization. The Diamondbacks offer him an opportunity to compete for a major league spot while benefiting from a different player development environment. At 27 years old, Amaya still has time to establish himself as a major league regular, and his minor league track record suggests he has the tools to contribute at the highest level if he can find the right opportunity and consistency.