Jacob Amaya

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #11 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: Amaya has a lengthy track record in the minors, having spent five seasons in the Dodgers system before being traded to the Marlins in 2023 for infielder Miguel Rojas. In 2022 he had the most productive season of his professional career and posted a combined slash line of .261/.369/.427 with 20 doubles, 17 home runs and 71 RBIs. At Triple-A Jacksonville, Amaya slashed .252/.345/.407 with 26 doubles and 15 home runs before being called up to the big league club for a brief four-game stint.
  
  Scouting Report: Amaya has a quiet setup in the box with a slight bend in his lower half and normal handset. He has a minimal load with a small stride and average bat speed. Amaya extends well through the baseball and does a nice job creating leverage in his swing. He has shown the ability to drive the baseball to all fields, but has borderline above-average power the pull side. Amaya has a decent approach and above average bat-to-ball skills, as evident by his 87% in-zone contact rate. His best tool is his defense, where he shows quick feet and smooth actions with a plus arm.
  
  The Future: Amaya will have a strong chance to crack the big league roster out of camp, especially with Joey Wendle becoming a free agent. Should the club bring in no further reinforcements from outside the organization, Amaya seems destined to be the Opening Day shortstop. If the club does elect to sign a free agent to fill the void left by Wendle, Amaya could be on the move.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60
• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #11 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: The grandson of former Brooklyn Dodgers prospect Frank Amaya, Jacob grew up 25 miles east of Dodger Stadium and was drafted by his hometown team in the 11th round in 2017. He quickly asserted himself as the best defensive shortstop in the Dodgers system, but his offense declined each level he rose and cratered with a disastrous showing at Double-A in 2021. Amaya reined in his approach to emphasize strike-zone discipline and bounced back in 2022. He set new career highs in hits (124), home runs (17) and total bases (203) and climbed to Triple-A.
  
  Scouting Report: Amaya's greatest strength is his defense. He is a consistent, reliable shortstop who makes every play and has few weaknesses. He positions himself well with his elite instincts, gets excellent reads off the bat, expertly assesses hops and calmly handles every ball with his smooth, fluid hands. He completes every throw with his plus, accurate arm and has an advanced internal clock. Amaya's defense is at least plus, but his well below-average hitting ability will likely prevent him from being an everyday player. He flashes good strike-zone discipline, but he lacks a natural feel for contact and constantly tinkers with his swing mechanics. Amaya gets in trouble when he starts chasing power and gets overly frustrated and down on himself offensively, although he has a knack for coming through with runners in scoring position.
  
  The Future: Amaya projects to be a light-hitting utilityman whose ability to play shortstop will keep him on a roster. He has a chance to make his major league debut in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 30. Power: 40. Speed: 50. Fielding: 60. Arm: 60.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #14 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Amaya grew up in suburban Los Angeles and is the grandson of former Brooklyn Dodgers prospect Frank Amaya. The Dodgers kept the connection going when they drafted the younger Amaya in the 11th round in 2017 and signed him for an above-slot $247,500. Amaya quickly established himself as the best defensive shortstop in the Dodgers system, but longstanding questions about his bat only increased after he hit .216/.303/.343 at Double-A Tulsa in 2021.
  
  Scouting Report: Amaya is a gifted defensive shortstop with elite instincts for the position. He is always in the right place, secures every ball with his soft, reliable hands and makes every throw with his plus, accurate arm. He’s not the rangiest or flashiest defender, but he makes every play and is elite at nuances such as tags and relays. Amaya’s bat is further behind. He previously demonstrated elite-strike zone discipline but tried to hit for power in 2021 and started chasing and overswinging. He’s an undersized hitter who is best when he drives singles the other way with a short, direct stroke.
  
  The Future: Amaya’s defense gives him a chance to stick as a utilityman. He’ll try to make the necessary offensive adjustments in 2022.
  
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #13 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Amaya grew up a Dodgers fan in suburban Los Angeles and his grandfather, Frank, was a Dodgers minor leaguer from 1955-58. The Dodgers drafted him in the 11th round in 2017 and signed him for an above-slot $247,500 to forgo a Cal State Fullerton commitment. Amaya immediately established himself as the best defensive infielder in the Dodgers system and progressively grew offensively, culminating in a .381 on-base percentage for low Class A Great Lakes in 2019. The Dodgers brought him to their alternate training site for the final month of the 2020 season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Amaya is a gifted defensive shortstop for his age. He positions himself in the right places with uncanny instincts, has impressive range in every direction, maintains proper footwork and has an above-average, accurate arm. He's improved his consistency with maturity and projects to be at least a plus defender. Amaya has a solid offensive foundation as a patient hitter who recognizes pitches and rarely chases, but his swing is still developing. He worked on his lower half and balance throughout the shutdown and saw an uptick in his quality of contact at the alternate site.
  
  THE FUTURE: Amaya's offensive development will determine if he reaches his everyday ceiling. His defense will buy him time.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #19 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Amaya grew up in suburban Los Angeles and signed with his hometown Dodgers for an above-slot $247,500 bonus as an 11th-round pick in 2017. He played his first full season in 2019 and tied for fifth in on-base percentage (.381) in the low Class A Midwest League before finishing at high Class A.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Amaya possesses a promising foundation as a plus defensive shortstop who consistently gets on base. His chase rate is so low it's an outlier, and he rarely swings and misses. He has nearly as many walks (147) as strikeouts (180) in his pro career while being young for every level. Amaya's approach is the strength of his offensive game. He flashes pullside power but overall doesn't do much damage when he connects and projects mostly as a singles and doubles hitter. Amaya is a quick, polished athlete in the middle infield with range to both sides. He has a above-average arm strength and a good internal clock.
  
  THE FUTURE: Amaya's continued offensive growth will determine his ceiling. He'll open 2020 back at Rancho Cucamonga.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #30 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Amaya's grandfather Frank Amaya played four seasons as a shortstop in the Brooklyn Dodgers organization beginning in 1955. The younger Amaya raised his draft profile with a star showing at the 2017 National High School Invitational as a senior for West Covina (Calif.) South Hills High School, and the hometown Dodgers drafted him in the 11th round. He signed for $247,500 to pass up a Cal State Fullerton commitment.
  
  Scouting Report: Amaya lacks huge tools but keeps getting on base and playing plus defense everywhere he goes. He has the plate discipline and pitch recognition of a leadoff hitter, and his growing strength is gradually producing harder contact. Amaya's swing is more suited for doubles than home runs, but as he picks out the right pitches to drive evaluators can envision double-digit home runs to go with an average bat. Amaya's advanced instincts at shortstop have him in the right in position to make seemingly every play. He is an average runner who gets excellent jumps and reads off the bat, and he has an above-average arm with a good internal clock.
  
  The Future: Amaya's advanced offensive approach and impressive shortstop defense have the Dodgers high on him. He'll spend 2019 at the class A levels.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #243 prospect in 2017 draft
  Amaya took a star turn with an exceptional performance at the National High School Invitation as a senior. The 6-foot, 195 pound shortstop made highlight-reel plays in the hole, showed off impressive arm strength, and lined the ball hard to all fields at the plate. Amaya demonstrates excellent barrel control and enough bat speed to catch up to high velocity. He has a chance to be an above-average hitter, but his power is fringe-average and is not expected to increase because he lacks physical projection. Defensively he is solid across the board at shortstop. Amaya has talent but lacks a carrying tool, which some evaluators believe will stall him at higher levels. His focus and work ethic off the field have also been questioned. Still, Amaya's ability to hit and play the middle infield appeals to many. He is committed to Cal State Fullerton.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pioneer League #12 prospect in 2018
  Amaya was undersized and sometimes overmatched in his pro debut in the Arizona League in 2017 before coming to spring training this year noticeably stronger. The added strength and experience showed in his performance in 32 games in the Pioneer League before moving up to Great Lakes of the Midwest League. Amaya has the plate discipline and advanced pitch recognition necessary to hit at the top of the order. He has gap power now but could grow into at least average power eventually. An average runner with an above-average arm and a good internal clock who gets good jumps and reads in the infield, Amaya can stay at shortstop but observers remarked that he could turn into a plus defender at second base. Amaya also stood out for his leadership skills while in Ogden. "Whatever team he plays for is going to be a winning team," Ogden manager Jeremy Rodriguez said. "He brings the whole team around him (with) a lot of passion and a lot of energy."

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: The grandson of former Brooklyn Dodgers prospect Frank Amaya, Jacob grew up 25 miles east of Dodger Stadium and was drafted by his hometown team in the 11th round in 2017. He quickly asserted himself as the best defensive shortstop in the Dodgers system, but his offense declined each level he rose and cratered with a disastrous showing at Double-A in 2021. Amaya reined in his approach to emphasize strike-zone discipline and bounced back in 2022. He set new career highs in hits (124), home runs (17) and total bases (203) and climbed to Triple-A.
  
  Scouting Report: Amaya's greatest strength is his defense. He is a consistent, reliable shortstop who makes every play and has few weaknesses. He positions himself well with his elite instincts, gets excellent reads off the bat, expertly assesses hops and calmly handles every ball with his smooth, fluid hands. He completes every throw with his plus, accurate arm and has an advanced internal clock. Amaya's defense is at least plus, but his well below-average hitting ability will likely prevent him from being an everyday player. He flashes good strike-zone discipline, but he lacks a natural feel for contact and constantly tinkers with his swing mechanics. Amaya gets in trouble when he starts chasing power and gets overly frustrated and down on himself offensively, although he has a knack for coming through with runners in scoring position.
  
  The Future: Amaya projects to be a light-hitting utilityman whose ability to play shortstop will keep him on a roster. He has a chance to make his major league debut in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 30. Power: 40. Speed: 50. Fielding: 60. Arm: 60.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: The grandson of former Brooklyn Dodgers prospect Frank Amaya, Jacob grew up 25 miles east of Dodger Stadium and was drafted by his hometown team in the 11th round in 2017. He quickly asserted himself as the best defensive shortstop in the Dodgers system, but his offense declined each level he rose and cratered with a disastrous showing at Double-A in 2021. Amaya reined in his approach to emphasize strike-zone discipline and bounced back in 2022. He set new career highs in hits (124), home runs (17) and total bases (203) and climbed to Triple-A.
  
  Scouting Report: Amaya's greatest strength is his defense. He is a consistent, reliable shortstop who makes every play and has few weaknesses. He positions himself well with his elite instincts, gets excellent reads off the bat, expertly assesses hops and calmly handles every ball with his smooth, fluid hands. He completes every throw with his plus, accurate arm and has an advanced internal clock. Amaya's defense is at least plus, but his well below-average hitting ability will likely prevent him from being an everyday player. He flashes good strike-zone discipline, but he lacks a natural feel for contact and constantly tinkers with his swing mechanics. Amaya gets in trouble when he starts chasing power and gets overly frustrated and down on himself offensively, although he has a knack for coming through with runners in scoring position.
  
  The Future: Amaya projects to be a light-hitting utilityman whose ability to play shortstop will keep him on a roster. He has a chance to make his major league debut in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 30. Power: 40. Speed: 50. Fielding: 60. Arm: 60.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Amaya grew up in suburban Los Angeles and is the grandson of former Brooklyn Dodgers prospect Frank Amaya. The Dodgers kept the connection going when they drafted the younger Amaya in the 11th round in 2017 and signed him for an above-slot $247,500. Amaya quickly established himself as the best defensive shortstop in the Dodgers system, but longstanding questions about his bat only increased after he hit .216/.303/.343 at Double-A Tulsa in 2021.
  
  Scouting Report: Amaya is a gifted defensive shortstop with elite instincts for the position. He is always in the right place, secures every ball with his soft, reliable hands and makes every throw with his plus, accurate arm. He&#39s not the rangiest or flashiest defender, but he makes every play and is elite at nuances such as tags and relays. Amaya&#39s bat is further behind. He previously demonstrated elite-strike zone discipline but tried to hit for power in 2021 and started chasing and overswinging. He&#39s an undersized hitter who is best when he drives singles the other way with a short, direct stroke.
  
  The Future: Amaya&#39s defense gives him a chance to stick as a utilityman. He&#39ll try to make the necessary offensive adjustments in 2022.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 50. Power: 40. Speed: 50. Fielding: 60. Arm: 60.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Amaya grew up in suburban Los Angeles and is the grandson of former Brooklyn Dodgers prospect Frank Amaya. The Dodgers kept the connection going when they drafted the younger Amaya in the 11th round in 2017 and signed him for an above-slot $247,500. Amaya quickly established himself as the best defensive shortstop in the Dodgers system, but longstanding questions about his bat only increased after he hit .216/.303/.343 at Double-A Tulsa in 2021.
  
  Scouting Report: Amaya is a gifted defensive shortstop with elite instincts for the position. He is always in the right place, secures every ball with his soft, reliable hands and makes every throw with his plus, accurate arm. He’s not the rangiest or flashiest defender, but he makes every play and is elite at nuances such as tags and relays. Amaya’s bat is further behind. He previously demonstrated elite-strike zone discipline but tried to hit for power in 2021 and started chasing and overswinging. He’s an undersized hitter who is best when he drives singles the other way with a short, direct stroke.
  
  The Future: Amaya’s defense gives him a chance to stick as a utilityman. He’ll try to make the necessary offensive adjustments in 2022.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Amaya grew up a Dodgers fan in suburban Los Angeles and his grandfather, Frank, was a Dodgers minor leaguer from 1955-58. The Dodgers drafted him in the 11th round in 2017 and signed him for an above-slot $247,500 to forgo a Cal State Fullerton commitment. Amaya immediately established himself as the best defensive infielder in the Dodgers system and progressively grew offensively, culminating in a .381 on-base percentage for low Class A Great Lakes in 2019. The Dodgers brought him to their alternate training site for the final month of the 2020 season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Amaya is a gifted defensive shortstop for his age. He positions himself in the right places with uncanny instincts, has impressive range in every direction, maintains proper footwork and has an above-average, accurate arm. He's improved his consistency with maturity and projects to be at least a plus defender. Amaya has a solid offensive foundation as a patient hitter who recognizes pitches and rarely chases, but his swing is still developing. He worked on his lower half and balance throughout the shutdown and saw an uptick in his quality of contact at the alternate site.
  
  THE FUTURE: Amaya's offensive development will determine if he reaches his everyday ceiling. His defense will buy him time.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Amaya grew up a Dodgers fan in suburban Los Angeles and his grandfather, Frank, was a Dodgers minor leaguer from 1955-58. The Dodgers drafted him in the 11th round in 2017 and signed him for an above-slot $247,500 to forgo a Cal State Fullerton commitment. Amaya immediately established himself as the best defensive infielder in the Dodgers system and progressively grew offensively, culminating in a .381 on-base percentage for low Class A Great Lakes in 2019. The Dodgers brought him to their alternate training site for the final month of the 2020 season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Amaya is a gifted defensive shortstop for his age. He positions himself in the right places with uncanny instincts, has impressive range in every direction, maintains proper footwork and has an above-average, accurate arm. He's improved his consistency with maturity and projects to be at least a plus defender. Amaya has a solid offensive foundation as a patient hitter who recognizes pitches and rarely chases, but his swing is still developing. He worked on his lower half and balance throughout the shutdown and saw an uptick in his quality of contact at the alternate site.
  
  THE FUTURE: Amaya's offensive development will determine if he reaches his everyday ceiling. His defense will buy him time.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Amaya grew up a Dodgers fan in suburban Los Angeles and his grandfather, Frank, was a Dodgers minor leaguer from 1955-58. The Dodgers drafted him in the 11th round in 2017 and signed him for an above-slot $247,500 to forgo a Cal State Fullerton commitment. Amaya immediately established himself as the best defensive infielder in the Dodgers system and progressively grew offensively, culminating in a .381 on-base percentage for low Class A Great Lakes in 2019. The Dodgers brought him to their alternate training site for the final month of the 2020 season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Amaya is a gifted defensive shortstop for his age. He positions himself in the right places with uncanny instincts, has impressive range in every direction, maintains proper footwork and has an above-average, accurate arm. He's improved his consistency with maturity and projects to be at least a plus defender. Amaya has a solid offensive foundation as a patient hitter who recognizes pitches and rarely chases, but his swing is still developing. He worked on his lower half and balance throughout the shutdown and saw an uptick in his quality of contact at the alternate site.
  
  THE FUTURE: Amaya's offensive development will determine if he reaches his everyday ceiling. His defense will buy him time.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Amaya grew up in suburban Los Angeles and signed with his hometown Dodgers for an above-slot $247,500 bonus as an 11th-round pick in 2017. He played his first full season in 2019 and tied for fifth in on-base percentage (.381) in the low Class A Midwest League before finishing at high Class A.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Amaya possesses a promising foundation as a plus defensive shortstop who consistently gets on base. His chase rate is so low it’s an outlier, and he rarely swings and misses. He has nearly as many walks (147) as strikeouts (180) in his pro career while being young for every level. Amaya’s approach is the strength of his offensive game. He flashes pullside power but overall doesn’t do much damage when he connects and projects mostly as a singles and doubles hitter. Amaya is a quick, polished athlete in the middle infield with range to both sides. He has a above-average arm strength and a good internal clock.
  
  THE FUTURE: Amaya’s continued offensive growth will determine his ceiling. He’ll open 2020 back at Rancho Cucamonga.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Amaya grew up in suburban Los Angeles and signed with his hometown Dodgers for an above-slot $247,500 bonus as an 11th-round pick in 2017. He played his first full season in 2019 and tied for fifth in on-base percentage (.381) in the low Class A Midwest League before finishing at high Class A.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Amaya possesses a promising foundation as a plus defensive shortstop who consistently gets on base. His chase rate is so low it's an outlier, and he rarely swings and misses. He has nearly as many walks (147) as strikeouts (180) in his pro career while being young for every level. Amaya's approach is the strength of his offensive game. He flashes pullside power but overall doesn't do much damage when he connects and projects mostly as a singles and doubles hitter. Amaya is a quick, polished athlete in the middle infield with range to both sides. He has a above-average arm strength and a good internal clock.
  
  THE FUTURE: Amaya's continued offensive growth will determine his ceiling. He'll open 2020 back at Rancho Cucamonga.