Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya hit the injured list over the weekend due to a left oblique strain. At the time of his IL placement, the team indicated that Amaya was headed for imaging to determine the severity of the injury. That step has been completed, and manager Craig Counsell informed the Cubs beat last night that Amaya will likely be out for the next four to six weeks (link via Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times). Chicago is hoping to get him back before the All-Star break.
The 26-year-old Amaya has been excellent in a limited role this season, taking 100 plate appearances over 27 games and turning in a .280/.313/.505 batting line (127 wRC+) with four homers and nine doubles. He’s only drawn four walks against 22 strikeouts but has generally enjoyed the most productive stretch of his career in 2025.
Amaya’s output has been more than strong enough to warrant a starting gig behind the plate, but he’s served as the backup to scorching-hot Carson Kelly, who signed a two-year deal in free agency and has erupted for a .298/.422/.606 slash (186 wRC+) with more walks than strikeouts (17.2% to 13.3%). Kelly is already halfway to his career-high 18 home runs — a mark he established back in 2019’s juiced-ball season.
Only the Mariners, led by presumptive All-Star Cal Raleigh, have gotten better production out of their catchers than the Cubs this season. Amaya’s hot streak has been a notable part of that, but he’ll give way to journeyman Reese McGuire, whose contract was selected in his place over the weekend. With Kelly out for the past three games due to an illness, McGuire has stepped right up and started three straight games. He’s just 2-for-10 in his first 11 plate appearances, but both of those hits have been home runs. McGuire is a career .251/.299/.369 hitter in 1049 major league plate appearances.
Why not call up Ballesteros? He didnt look overmatched..is his defense behind the plate that bad?
Yeah, his defense isn’t great. I think they want him to work on it more before trusting him as the backup catcher. He may end up moving off the position ultimately.
If they were a rebuilding team, he’d be up. But they can’t give him the time behind the plate on a division-leading team, and they already have Suzuki at DH.
If anything, he is their best trade chip if a #2 starter comes up on the market in July.
He’s currently the emergency catcher and better suited to get more starts than riding the bench.
“Only the Mariners, led by presumptive All-Star Cal Raleigh, have gotten better production out of their catchers than the Mariners this season”
Mariners not to be outdone by the Mariners.
To be fair, Mr Adams does usually correct his mistakes/typos when they are pointed out to him, unlike Deedsy.
Not a huge loss. Smart move keeping a guy like McGuire around since he’s know to yank a few out.
Well played, sir!
Would you say hes a “pull” hitter?
Heh heh heh heh, he said would
Just keep him away from the parking lots!
Even w Kelly’s scorching start, he and Amaya were essentially splitting time behind the plate so I wouldn’t say he’s been the backup. Miguel’s defense has also looked much better to start this season. I wouldn’t say it’s a huge loss, but McGuire is certainly a dropoff and playing Kelly everyday once he’s healthy again will likely just expedite his descent back to Earth.
The injuries are taking a toll on a team that is off to an unexpectedly good start- especially when you factor in their April/May schedule. Jed is going to need to acquire a legit closer and a frontline starter to replace Steele- no easy task, especially at the trade deadline. Shaw is looking great at 3B, so hopefully he can keep it going and cover that hole. Horton is looking like a legit MLB starter, I hope he can continue to improve and utilize that changeup, it has looked like a real weapon against LHH.
Nobody should be saying Amaya was the backup. He actually started the season even up to about 20 games in getting more starts than Kelly. And the only reason Kelly got as many starts as he did by then, was because you couldn’t deny what his bat was doing. So at that point they were just splitting equal time. The writer doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
This is a tough loss.He was finally starting to be a dependable hitter, really for the first extended period in what has been a step-forward-step-back career, a kind of agonizing slog toward adequacy. His defense has also improved. The worst part might be that, when he comes back in six weeks, he might need a while to get back to where he was before the injury. He might be tentative on throws for a long time.
As much fun as McGuire’s first game was, I’m not sure that Carlos Perez isn’t the better option to share time with Kelly. And while I suppose Cubs management knows better–I’d like to see whether Ballesteros might be able to rise to the occasion defensively, rather than simply assume he can’t.
Ballesteros is only 21 years old. He’s the seventh youngest player in AAA and when he was with the Cubs he was the third youngest player in the major leagues. He’ll be back.
Ballesteros needs development before consideration for his defense. McGuire threw out both Rockies base stealers with perfect throws last night and in the clutch when it mattered. Doubt very much if ballesteros would have able. Team needs defense first not offense.
I dont expect him to hit much, but I think McGuire will do a fine job as a LHH backup catcher.