After a solid season in the Minor Leagues, the San Diego Padres recognized Ethan Salas' development by giving him his first call-up to the big league team this Tuesday, as part of the roster expansion during the month of September.
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The information was initially reported by Kevin Acee for The San Diego Union-Tribune, leaving the young catcher one step away from becoming the 17th Venezuelan to make his debut in the best baseball in the world this season.
Salas, who celebrated his 20th birthday on June 1st, is considered the top prospect in the San Diego farm system and is ranked as the 23rd best prospect in all of Major League Baseball according to MLB Pipeline.
Meteoric progression and elite numbers in the Minor Leagues
During his time with Double-A San Antonio, the Venezuelan catcher played in 72 games, posting a batting average of .286 (74-for-259) with 13 doubles, seven home runs, 37 RBIs, 41 runs scored, and an OPS of .778. His performance in that league revitalized his status as a prospect and earned him his second selection to the Futures Game held in mid-July in Philadelphia.
Subsequently, his call-up to Triple-A with the El Paso Chihuahuas was finalized on July 29, where he confirmed he was ready for the definitive jump to the Majors. In that category, he displayed an outstanding .326 batting average, with 29 hits in 89 at-bats—including six doubles and two triples—also registering 24 RBIs, 13 runs scored, a .410 OBP, a .529 slugging percentage, and an outstanding .949 OPS across 105 plate appearances.
