Amador entered last year as the team’s No. 1 prospect. Anticipating his first Major League chance last year, Amador tried to bulk up, but an oblique injury flared before his callup from Double-A Hartford and ended his trip to the Majors. A transition from shortstop to second base that proved difficult didn’t help.

This year, he joined Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon in shifting from a training program that produced bigger muscles to one based on movement . Amador also gave up Dominican candies that worked against him being in peak condition and sought out trainers with experience working with football players, whose sport requires quick bursts.

Amador performed well enough in Spring Training to receive consideration for the Major League roster when Thairo Estrada sustained a right wrist fracture late in camp. A sign of progress came in the March 16 Spring Breakout against the White Sox in Glendale, Ariz., when Amador homered and scooted far to his left to begin an eye-catching double play.