The San Diego Padres officially called up top prospect Ethan Salas to the major league squad after a monster finish with El Paso. Seriously, this kid’s numbers are just wild, and he’s heading to the show to finish out his 2026 season.
Salas’ Bat Is Built Different, And The Metrics Prove It
Salas only played 24 games with the Chihuahuas, but man, did he make them count. In 105 plate appearances, he slashed an insane .326/.410/.539, smashing six doubles, two triples, and three home runs, driving in 24 runs. His .944 OPS was flat-out tops among El Paso regulars. And get this: in his final week before the call-up, his OPS actually jumped to a .947, plus he walked four times, ripped a triple, and stole four bases. That’s just showing off.
But it’s not just the traditional stats. The advanced metrics on this dude are next-level. Salas boasted a 44.9% hard-hit rate, way above the 40-44% average. His 93.1% in-zone contact rate absolutely blows the typical 78-83% average out of the water. And a 9.8% whiff rate? That’s elite, especially when the average is sitting at 22-26%. Capped it off with a 90th percentile exit velocity of 103.7 mph. Across both Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A El Paso this season, Salas hit .296/.374/.448 with 19 doubles, two triples, 10 dingers, and 61 RBI in 96 games split between catcher and DH. What a player.
Youngest In The Game With Good-To-Elite Defense
What makes Salas’ performance even more mind-blowing is his age. He was four years younger than any other player on El Paso, and at least three years younger than anyone else in San Antonio. Think about that for a second! When he makes his MLB debut, he’ll be the youngest catcher to play in the big leagues since Pudge Rodriguez in 1991. That’s legendary company right there.
It’s not just the bat, either. Salas has always gotten top marks for his maturity behind the plate, handling pitchers and managing games. His 33.3% caught-stealing rate in Triple-A is seriously impressive, crushing the typical MLB average of 25-30%. Plus, his pop time is under 1.9 seconds, when the average is 2.00-2.01 seconds. These aren’t just good numbers; they’re good-to-elite for MLB catchers, every single one of whom is older than 20. The Padres have had real-time feedback on his readiness too, since Salas caught Joe Musgrove and Nick Pivetta’s rehab starts. They know what they’re getting.
The DSL Padres Are Rolling, Too
While Salas is tearing it up, the Padres organization also saw their Dominican Gold team snatch its second straight championship this past week, beating the Reds DSL team two games to one. They were dominant all season, even after losing top prospect Joniel Hernandez in a trade for LHP Robbie Ray. The hero there was 18-year-old C/1B Dayquer Alfonzo, hitting .331/.464/.533 in 51 games. You’ll likely see him stateside next year. Gabriel Teran, another 18-year-old, played almost everywhere and hit .323/.558/.455. Pitcher Carlos Alvarez, 18, had a 3.25 ERA over 44.1 innings, and reliever Albieris Polanco, 20, nabbed three saves with a 3.19 ERA.
The El Paso Chihuahuas, Salas’ former team, finished with a 53-79 record, last in the PCL East, after a 3-4 week. Their season is done. For Salas though, the real work just begins. He’s got the talent, the numbers, and the maturity to make an immediate impact. Get ready to watch this kid.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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