Entering this season, Adael Amador had played in 51 games for the Rockies since making his MLB debut on June 9, 2026. During that time, Amador yo-yoed from Triple-A Albuquerque and Colorado, putting up impressive numbers for the Isotopes, only to struggle with the Rockies.
In June, Purple Row’s Skyler Timminseven wrote about what the Rockies should do with their highly touted prospect who couldn’t seem to crack the MLB code. Skyler discussed the value of trying out Amador in the outfield in addition
to second base, giving more versatility to the switch hitter. It seemed more likely than trading Amador, especially without a Rockie having locked down the starting spot at second base and the team valuing utility players.
Perhaps all Amador needed was more time to develop with the Isotopes. Still just 23 years old, Amador hit .264/.367/.428 with 21 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs, and 62 RBIs while drawing more walks than strikeouts — 61 to 48 — in 94 games. A seasoned second baseman who can also play shortstop, Amador also added some time in left field to his resume.
After just 12 games, in 40 plate appearances, Amador has posted 12 hits — including three homers and two doubles — with 10 runs scored, 10 RBI, seven strikeouts and four walks. He’s hitting .333/.400/.639 with a 1.039 OPS.
It’s a night-and-day difference from his previous stints with the Rockies.
After parts of two seasons in 2024 and 2025, in 164 plate appearances, Amador combined for 26 hits, including eight doubles and one homer, scored six runs, drove in 10 runs, struck out 33 times and walked 12 times. He hit .176/.242/.250 with an OPS of .492.
In nearly every metric, Amador’s 2026 numbers reflect a completely different player.
Obviously, 12 games isn’t very many in a season known for the grit required to grind out a 162-game marathon. But Amador has done better in this set of games than he has during any other time in his MLB career. After posting a strikeout rate of 21.1% in 2025, Amador has dropped it to 17.5% this season. He’s also increased his walk rate exponentially each season from 2.8% in 2024, to 8.6% last season to 10% in 2026.
Another big change is in the power. After hitting one homer in 148 at-bats in his first two seasons, Amador has connected for three in 32 at-bats this year. That includes a solo shot off New York Yankee Cam Schlittler on Tuesday.
Amador has provided much-needed depth as the Rockies have faced some infielder injuries in August and September. He was first called up on Aug. 12 when Kyle Karros went on the 7-day concussion list. Before being sent back to Albuquerque on Aug. 21, Amador went 3-for-10 with five runs scored, a double, a homer, six RBIs and three walks and five strikeouts in five games.
After a short stint back with the Isotopes, Amador was called up again thanks to MLB’s expanded September rosters. He then benefited from the opening created by Willi Castro’s left heel inflammation that put him on the 10-day IL on Sept. 2. In seven games in September, Amador has gone 9-for-26 with five runs scored, four RBIs, two homers, a double, three strikeouts and one walk. It started with a bang with a solo homer in his first game back.
The next day, Amador scored the winning run when Brett Sullivan hit a walk-off single against the Orioles.
Amador’s bat has been so effective that Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer slotted him in at DH on Thursday night in New York vs. the Yankees. He went 1-for-4 with a strikeout in the 10-3 loss.
Embodying a true “next man up” mentality, Amador has taken advantage of his opportunities. With 16 games remaining this season for the Rockies, Amador is trying to prove that 2026 represents the real Amador. In doing so, he may be auditioning for second base and utility for next season.
He’s battling Connor Norby, who’s had an impressive start with Colorado since being acquired in the Victor Vodnik trade with the Miami Marlins on Aug. 3. Norby was called up on Aug. 10 when Tyler Freeman went on the IL. As of now, they’ll be contending with Castro — who has one year remaining on his two-year, $12.8-million deal — for second base and utility jobs.
If Amador can keep up his impressive August and September, he’ll be one step closer to proving he was worth the hypewhen the Rockies signed him out of the Dominican Republic in 2019 when he was just 16.
On the Farm
Triple-A: Reno Aces 3, Albuquerque Isotopes 2
After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, the Isotopes struck back to tie the game in the second when Chad Stevens walked, Bryant Betancourt singled and Conner Capel hit a sacrifice fly to plate Stevens. Reno rallied back to score runs in the bottom of the third and fifth innings to go up 3-1. In the sixth, Roc Roggio hit a two-out single and moved to second when Stevens walked. Betancourt, who recorded two of Albuquerque’s five hits, followed with an RBI single to cut Reno’s lead to one. But that was the end of the would-be comeback. Eiberson Castellano suffered the loss, dropping to 4-4, after giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts in 3.1 relief innings.
Double-A: Somerset Patriots 3, Hartford Yard Goats 0
Little did the Yard Goats know that when Braylen Wimmer singled on a ground ball to right field to lead off the second inning, it would be their only hit for the night. The second frame seemed promising when Wimmer then stole second, but then Wimmer was picked off. Dyan Jorge then reached base on a fielding error and also stole second base, only to be stranded when Jack O’Dowd struck out. Matt Antico was hit by a pitch and stole second in the sixth, but was left there. O’Dowd drew a walk and Antico was hit by a pitch again to give Hartford two more base runners, but they were also stranded. Hartford was outhit 13-1 by the Patriots. Jackson Cox took the loss (2-4) after giving up two runs on four hits with three strikeouts in three innings.
Quintana, Freeland pitch scoreless ball in Double-A rehab outings | MLB.com
The lefties are coming back. Jose Quintana hasn’t pitched for the Rockies since May 24, while Kyle Freeland hasn’t been on the mound for Colorado since Aug. 19. Quintana has missed most of the season with a left elbow strain, while Freeland was sidelined with cervical radiculopathy. Both played for the Yard Goats with Quintana throwing two scoreless innings and Freeland adding three more on Wednesday night. Freeland is expected to rejoin the Rockies soon, while Quintana is expected to have at least one more rehab start.
Diamond Dawgs vendor retiring after 31 Rockies seasons | Denver Westword
As long as the Rockies have played at Coors Field, which started in 1995, Joyl Watkins has been serving up hot dogs at the corner of 19th and Wynkoop. But this season will be his last as the vendor has decided to call it a career.
MLB Power Rankings Week 24: AL contender rising in mid-September | ESPN.com
The Rockies aren’t last. Thanks to a better offense, especially on the road, the Rockies have finally crawled out of the basement to No. 29.
A Vibe of Their Own: With dynamic players, the WPBL is establishing its culture in inaugural season | Kick the Concrete
With the Women’s Pro Baseball League playoffs in full swing, I just wanted to share some articles I wrote after making the trip to Springfield, Ill. to see some games in August. This one is about the swagger of the league and comes with a playlist of walk-up songs. Here’s another one on some women’s baseball history.
Join the conversation!
Sign up for a user account and get:
- Fewer ads
- Create community posts
- Comment on articles, community posts
- Rec comments, community posts
- New, improved notifications system!
Download the SB Nation app on iOS or Android.
Please keep in mind ourPurple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!
