Prospect Jacob Amaya was added to the Los Angeles Dodgers 60-man player pool for the 2020 season. Per the club’s transactions, Amaya joined the team’s alternate training site Sunday.
The Dodgers selected Amaya in the 11th round of the 2017 MLB Draft. He was among their non-roster invitees to Spring Training this year, marking a first for the versatile infielder.
The 21-year-old spent most of last season with Low-A Great Lakes before joining High-A Rancho Cucamonga. Amaya batted .262/.381/.394 with 25 doubles, four triples, six home runs and 58 RBI over 103 games with the Loons.
His production dropped some upon earning a promotion to the Quakes, but Amaya still hit a respectable .250/.307/.375 with three doubles, one home run and 13 RBI in 21 games. Amaya memorably hit a walk-off home run in the California League playoffs, though the Quakes still went on to lose the series.
Throughout his young Minor League career, Amaya has played second base, third base and shortstop. The bulk of his time in the field last year came at shortstop.
Amaya joins a group of players at USC that is headlined by Tony Gonsolin and Gavin Lux, and features top prospects Josiah Gray and Keibert Ruiz. Gonsolin and Ruiz have both spent time with the Dodgers this season, which for the catching prospect amounted to making his MLB debut.
The Dodgers are live streaming a game on Monday that will feature those who are part of their player pool.
Dodgers remaining at USC
When the Dodgers first decided on opening their secondary training site at USC during Summer Camp, it was with the expectation the club would shift operations to the Quakes’ facility once students began to arrive on campus for classes.
However, like other universities across the country, USC has elected for remote/online classes this fall in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Thus, the Dodgers will keep the benefit of having their player pool a few miles from Dodger Stadium.
“Fortunately — or unfortunately — school is not going back to normal, so we’re going to stay there to finish the season out,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said last week.
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