Cubs Move Miguel Amaya to Injured List, Call up Former First-Round Pick

The Chicago Cubs will be without one of their top catchers, Miguel Amaya, and his replacement is a bit of a surprise.

May 19, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Chicago Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya (9) hits a three-run home run against the Miami Marlins during the fourth inning at loanDepot Park. | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

It was all but assured that Chicago Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya would be put on the 10-day injured list before Sunday’s game with Cincinnati.

His replacement is a bit of surprise.

The Cubs made the expected move, placing Amaya on the IL with a right oblique strain he suffered on Saturday night while trying to throw out Reds speedster Elly De La Cruz at second base. Amaya left the game with a trainer and Carson Kelly replaced him.

The official move was reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. The Cubs made the move official shortly after.

After the game, manager Craig Counsell told reporters that an IL move was likely. The Cubs only have one catcher on the 26-man roster and Kelly needed a backup.

One obvious move would have been to recall young catcher Moises Ballesteros from Triple-A Iowa. He was sent back on May 20, but he could be recalled if it was due to an injury.

Instead, the Cubs have gone in a different direction.

Cubs Call Up Reese McGuire

The Cubs have called up Reese McGuire to replace Amaya for now.

The 30-year-old McGuire joined the Cubs on a minor league contract in spring training and went to Iowa after the season started. But, in 2014, he was the Pittsburgh Pirates’ first-round pick (No. 14 overall) out of Kentwood High School in Covington, Wash.

The Pirates dealt him to Toronto in 2016 in a trade and he eventually made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays in 2018. He’s been primarily a backup or a tandem catcher in his career with Toronto (2018-22), the Chicago White Sox (2022) and Boston (2022-24).

That said, he has a solid slash for a backup catcher — .252./.300/.364 in 355 Major League games — with 16 home runs and 82 RBI.

Kelly has had a breakthrough season offensively. In 32 games, as he has slashed .301/.425/.612 with nine home runs and 24 RBI.