Amador’s plate discipline reigned in Double-A but can it translate to the big leagues?
Welcome to the 2024 edition of Ranking the Rockies, where we take a look back at every player to log playing time for the Rockies in 2024. The purpose of this list is to provide a snapshot of the player in context. The “Ranking” is an organizing principle that’s drawn from Baseball Reference’s WAR (rWAR). It’s not something the staff debated. We’ll begin with the player with the lowest rWAR and end up with the player with the highest.
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No. 35, Adael Amador, -0.4 rWAR
The future of second base remains a bit of a mystery for the Colorado Rockies. Following the departure of D.J. LeMahieu, the spot has mainly belonged to Brendan Rodgers who was meant to be a franchise cornerstone. However, injuries and lackluster performance at the plate have hindered Rodgers and his successor isn’t as clear-cut as it once was. Still, it would appear that Adael Amador is the top candidate to take over the spot in the near future as he got a cup of coffee with the Rockies in 2024 to give a peek at his skills.
Amador, 21, has impressed since he signed with the organization in 2019 and began play in 2021 when he turned 18. The defining characteristic of the switch-hitting infielder has been his excellent plate discipline and vision. In four minor league seasons, Amador has 221 strikeouts and 215 walks. A near 1:1 ratio of strikeouts to walks is certainly an attractive feature for a Rockies organization that has struggled with strikeouts for several seasons as is his modest power and the prospect of a high batting average.
Amador’s start to the 2024 season was an interesting discussion in production. Through his first 46 games, Amador had a .194 AVG in 209 plate appearances, a far cry from the .287 AVG he put up in 2023 across three levels. He had 33 hits, including seven home runs and two doubles, but also 31 runs and 22 stolen bases. His .337 OBP was key in helping the Yard Goats secure a first-half ticket to the postseason and it helped him earn a promotion to the big league club once Rodgers hit the injured list for 10 days.
The jump from Double-A to the big leagues is tough, but the Rockies felt it was a perfect opportunity to get an up close and personal look at what Amador could bring to the table. After all, he is considered one of their top overall prospects and highly regarded by media lists around the league.
Amador played in 10 games with the Rockies. After snagging his first hit in his first game, Amador went on to slash .171/.194/.200 in 36 plate appearances, going 6-for-35 with a double. There were obvious growing pains defensively at second base while at the plate he struck out six times and walked just once. It’s difficult to fully assess his big league time in such a small sample size, but it was clear that Amador was either overmatched or a bit too eager to please, resulting in middling results. He did show signs of starting to get comfortable when he went 3-for-6 against the Los Angeles Dodgers in his final two games before landing the shelf with an oblique strain.
Once recovered Amador was sent back to Hartford where he finished the year stronger than the first half. In his final 55 games, Amador slashed .269/.359/.431 with eight home runs and 30 RBI while adding another 12 stolen bases. The biggest difference was that he struck out 50 times to 29 walks which is still an excellent ratio but showcased evidence that he was trying to be more aggressive and proactive at the plate.
Therein lies the puzzle for Amador to solve. Early in the season, it could be argued that he was too patient and selective, limiting his opportunities to produce. While walks are nothing to frown upon, his pitch selection ability to then put the ball in play is crucial. It’s okay for Amador to be a bit more aggressive on pitches he deems good enough to hit, but he also has to retain the ability to let pitches go.
Amador has a unique skill set that could certainly help the Rockies, but the matter of whether it will translate to the big leagues remains to be seen. Should the Rockies move on from Rodgers this winter it could open the door for Amador to get an extended look at second base for the team, giving him ample opportunity to adjust to big-league pitching. Alternatively, he could start the year in Triple-A until deemed ready. Either way, Amador is around the corner and the Rockies will have to decide if he’s the type of player they want.
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