Padres’ Salas joins Single-A … at 16 years previous

A 16-year-old is coming to the California League.

San Diego formally added Ethan Salas to its Single-A Lake Elsinore roster on Tuesday. MLB’s No. 86 prospect will bat second and function the Storm’s designated hitter in his Minor League debut at dwelling towards Visalia.

The transfer comes just a little greater than 4 months after the Venezuelan catcher signed with San Diego for $5.6 million on the opening of the 2023 worldwide signing window.

Salas, who turns 17 on Thursday, turns into the primary member of that worldwide class to seem within the Minors and the primary 2006-born participant to debut within the Minor Leagues. Angels outfielder Nelson Rada, who was born in August 2005, was beforehand the youngest Minor Leaguer to see recreation motion this season.

San Diego officers have been enamored with Salas’ instruments since he first entered the group, most particularly his superior really feel for the finer components of catching – specifically receiving, framing and speaking. Shortly after signing, {the teenager} labored with Major League arms, together with Yu Darvish, in offseason bullpens and shortly gained over veterans. His easy left-handed swing helps him venture as a future plus hitter within the Majors, whereas his energy needs to be common.

“He’s kind of the total-package catcher,” scouting director Chris Kemp said after the Padres signed Salas this winter. “It’s just rare. This is my ninth year doing international scouting and, for us, this is the most interesting guy we’ve scouted.”

The Padres backed up their early confidence within the backstop by giving him a Cactus League look this spring on March 11. He caught 4 innings in that recreation towards the White Sox and grounded out to second in his solely at-bat. Right shoulder soreness delayed Salas some this spring, however he returned to motion in prolonged spring coaching earlier this month and appeared wholesome sufficient to make the soar over the Arizona Complex League come Tuesday.

Since 2018, solely two gamers have seen the Single-A stage of their age-17 seasons: Rada and Padres outfielder Samuel Zavala. Unlike Salas, each batters had already seen complex-level play earlier than leaping to full-season ball, making the catcher’s superior soar all of the extra unprecedented in current instances.

The most notable instance of a teen making an identical leap was when Julio Urías debuted for Single-A Great Lakes at 16 years previous on May 26, 2013.