Japhet Amador

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Amador and the second or maternal family name is Hernandez.
Japhet Amador
Amador in 2016 with the Rakuten Eagles
Diablos Rojos del México – No. 29
First baseman/Designated hitter
Born: (1987-01-19) January 19, 1987 (age 37)
Mulegé, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
NPB debut
May 25, 2016, for the Rakuten Golden Eagles
NPB statistics
(through 2018 season)
Batting average.250
Hits190
Home runs52
Runs batted in126
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Japhet Isidro Amador Hernandez (born January 19, 1987), nicknamed "El Gigante de Mulegé", is a Mexican professional baseball first baseman and designated hitter for the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League. He previously played for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

Career

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Diablos Rojos del Mexico

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Amador was born in Mulegé, Baja California Sur. From 2007 through a portion of the 2013 season, Amador played in the Mexican League, for the Petroleros de Minatitlán, Rojos del Águila de Veracruz and Diablos Rojos del México.[1] In 2012, he hit 15 home runs through 81 Mexican League games; he hit 17 home runs in 61 games that year during winter baseball in the Mexican Pacific League.[2] In 104 games for the Diablos Rojos in 2013, Amador hit .368 with 36 home runs and 121 runs batted in (RBI).[2]

Houston Astros

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On August 18, 2013 the Astros signed him and assigned him to the triple-A Oklahoma City RedHawks.[3] When the Astros signed him, Amador weighed 330 pounds.[4] He played 10 games for Oklahoma City.[2] The organization then sent him to the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League.[5]

In February 2014, the Astros reported that Amador was in Mexico dealing with a family emergency, that he would not be reporting for the beginning of spring training and that they were not sure whether he would report to the Astros at all.[4] Amador reported to camp a couple of weeks late, and reporter Evan Drellich wrote that Amador's pregnant wife had been ill. Drellich said that Amador had hurt his already low chances of playing first base with the Astros.[6]

Amador appeared in seven games with Class AAA Oklahoma City early in the 2014 season.[2][7]

Second stint with Diablos Rojos del México

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By May, he had been returned to the Diablos Rojos on the agreement that he would rejoin the Astros organization when the Mexican League season was finished.[7] He hit 13 home runs that year in 64 games with the Diablos Rojos.[2]

In 2015, Amador led the Mexican League in home runs, hitting 41 during the regular season and earning the league's Most Valuable Player award. He hit 14 more home runs during winter baseball in the Mexican Pacific League.[8]

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles

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On December 24, 2015, Amador signed with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) after the 2015 season.[9][10]

On May 25, 2016, Amador made his NPB debut.[11] On November 28, 2016, he signed a 1-year extension to remain with the Eagles.[12]

On November 27, 2017, Amador signed a 1-year extension to remain with the Eagles.[13]

On August 9, 2018, Amador was suspended for six months after testing positive for the banned substances chlortalidone and furosemide, but he stated that he would appeal the suspension, and claimed that he would never intentionally take any banned drugs.[14] Leading up to his suspension, Amador had a .269 average and 20 home runs in 62 games played for the club.[15] Amador became a free agent after the season.

Third stint with Diablos Rojos del México

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In 2019, Amador returned to Mexico to play with the Diablos Rojos del México.[16] He hit .346 with 28 home runs and 115 runs batted in that year. Amador did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Mexican League season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[17] He played for the Charros de Jalisco in the Mexican Pacific Winter League in 2020-21.[2]

In 2021, Amador appeared in 59 games hitting .314/.407/.586 with 15 home runs and 57 RBIs.

In 2022, Amador appeared in 73 games hitting .315/.363/.541 with 17 home runs, 70 RBIs and a stolen base.

On April 22, 2023, Amador was the Opening Day first baseman for the Diablos. In the game, Amador helped the club overcome a 0-10 deficit by hitting a walk-off grand slam on a 2 out, 2 strike count.[18] In 78 games he hit .336/.406/.532 with 15 home runs, 78 RBIs and 2 stolen bases.

In 2024, Amador appeared in 39 games hitting .234/.318/.390 with 6 home runs and 33 RBIs.

International career

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Amador was selected for Mexico national baseball team at the exhibition games against Japan in 2016 and 2017 World Baseball Classic.

On October 16, 2016, he was selected for exhibition games against Japan in 2016.[19]

On February 8, 2017, he was selected for 2017 World Baseball Classic.[20]

Personal

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In Mexico, Amador has been given the nickname "El Gigante de Mulegé" (The Giant of Mulegé) due to his 1.93 m height.[21] Only one 300-pound player in baseball history has made the major leagues.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Japhet Amador llega a los Diablos". MiLB.com (in Spanish). 19 January 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Japhet Amador Register Statistics & History. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  3. ^ Sickels, John. "Astros sign Mexican slugger Japhet Amador".
  4. ^ a b Drellich, Evan (February 19, 2014). "Japhet Amador may not report to Astros". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  5. ^ Magruder, Jack. "Amador looks to showcase his power in AFL".
  6. ^ Drellich, Evan (March 3, 2014). "Japhet Amador needs at least a week to be game-ready". Houston Astros. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  7. ^ a b c Campa, Emmanuel (May 7, 2014). "Japhet Amador sueña con llegar a Grandes Ligas" (in Spanish). Excélsior. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  8. ^ Clair, Michael (January 13, 2016). "Nobody hit more home runs in 2015 than... Japhet Amador?". MLB.com. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  9. ^ "ジャフェット・アマダー選手の契約合意に関して". 東北楽天ゴールデンイーグルス オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). December 24, 2015. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  10. ^ "Amador a Águilas de Rakuten en Japón" (in Spanish). milb.com. December 18, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  11. ^ "楽天８連敗 先発川井初登板も４回５失点で２軍落ち". 日刊スポーツ (in Japanese). May 25, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  12. ^ "来季の外国人選手契約に関して". 東北楽天ゴールデンイーグルス オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). November 28, 2016. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  13. ^ "外国人選手の契約更新に関して". 東北楽天ゴールデンイーグルス オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). November 27, 2017. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  14. ^ "ジャフェット・アマダー選手 アンチ・ドーピング規定違反に関して". 東北楽天ゴールデンイーグルス オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). August 9, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  15. ^ Coskrey, Jason (August 9, 2018). "Eagles' Japhet Amador banned six months for doping". The Japan Times. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  16. ^ "Regresa Japhet Amador a la Pandilla Roja" (in Spanish). January 15, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  17. ^ "Mexican League Cancels 2020 Season".
  18. ^ "Mariners Moose Tracks, 4/23/23: Travis Kuhn, Derek Shelton, and Japhet Amador". lookoutlanding.com. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  19. ^ "侍ジャパン強化試合に出場する メキシコ代表、オランダ代表選手が決定" (in Japanese). October 18, 2016. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  20. ^ Austin Laymance (February 7, 2017). "A-Gon, Davis lead Mexico's WBC '17 roster". MLB.com. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  21. ^ Alarcón, Roberto (November 5, 2014). "El 'Gigante de Mulegé' está con el madero encendido". El Informador (in Spanish). Retrieved May 1, 2015.
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