Amador looking to make noise in Rockies' 2B battle

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Second baseman Adael Amador began this Spring Training totally blended in with the hopefuls in the Rockies’ clubhouse. Or maybe he was just forgotten.

Two camps ago, when Amador was the Rockies’ MLB Pipeline No. 1 prospect, visitors to Rockies camp were eager for his story -- from his love of the pink glove stitching and even pink hair to tattoos honoring his grandfather and mentor (and onetime Rockies shortstop) José Reyes. Amador’s debut in '24 was truncated by an oblique injury that had bothered him before his callup, so after the year he adopted then-teammate Ryan McMahon for speed-oriented workouts.

But in three trips to the Majors last season, Amador slashed .177/.256/.265 and showed his inexperience on a couple of bizarre plays.

This year, the Rockies have signed veteran free agent Willi Castro, traded for right-side defender Edouard Julien, let Tyler Freeman know that playing the infield could keep him on the field after he spent most of last year in right field and even brought in the experienced Nicky Lopez. Amador seems like yesterday’s top prospect news.

But Amador is out to prove that it’s too soon to click the “X” in the top right corner of the screen and close his story.

The switch-hitting Amador knocked the club’s first Cactus League home run on Saturday. And while he is down to his last Minor League option, Amador, who turns 23 on April 11, is still the youngest non-pitcher on Colorado’s 40-man Major League roster.

Amador’s hair is close-cropped and natural black, but the easy smile and the elements of a personal style haven’t been stifled by the halting and still-incomplete entrée into MLB life. Amador went .303/.405/.478 in 80 games at Triple-A Albuquerque last season.

“My confidence was always high,” Amador said with Edwin Perez interpreting. “The most important thing is being healthy. I always had faith in God that I would be able to be healthy, and I’m thankful for that. Because I was able to play when needed, I never felt down on myself.”

Because the Rockies fell into the pattern of pulling up prospects to fill holes (Amador was pulled out of Double-A Hartford for his debut, for example), a now-or-never culture emerged. Rushed timetables often work to the detriment of prospects, especially Latin American players -- who sign at a younger age and therefore have to be protected on the 40-man roster younger than their American counterparts. Then again, young Americans didn’t necessarily benefit from a hamster wheel that led to the Rockies over the last two years having used 19 players who were at Double-A at some point in those same seasons.

New general manager Josh Byrnes was hired before the Winter Meetings and joined the new front office in a crash course in players. The assessment was “there’s talent here” -- and Amador is part of it.

“He’s always been a good hitter -- the decision-making and contact skills are good,” Byrnes said. “So we’re saying let’s do more with it, be a good at-bat guy but let’s do damage. The foundation of a good switch-hitter helps.”

Manager Warren Schaeffer said Amador is competing for a Major League job as he continues developing.

“Adael is squarely in the mix for that second-base job,” Schaeffer said. “He’s here to compete for a job. We like a lot of things that he does. He’s a guy that walks more than he strikes out historically in his career [265 walks to 258 strikeouts in five Minor League seasons]. We need guys that get on base. We can do that.”

What will bridge the gap?

“Defensive improvement, baserunning improvement -- basically all-around improvement,”

Amador signed out of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, for $1.5 million and began his career as a shortstop. The transition to second base is ongoing, and he acknowledges that increasing his range and improving at the throw to feed the shortstop on double plays are areas for improvement.

Amador also realizes the importance of telling his story, even if not to notebooks and cameras. He has packed much excitement and disappointment over the last two years. As he pushes for his spot in the Majors, he dedicates himself to helping those earlier on his path, such as outfielder and No. 4 prospect Robert Calaz, and infielder and No. 16 prospect Roldy Brito.

“When I get a chance to see them at the complex, that’s when I have those conversations and tell them everything I’ve been through,” he said. “I want them not to go through some of the mistakes I did. Our goal is to be a championship team; we can do that by helping each other learn.”