Catcher Ethan Salas made his debut for the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, Sept 2, becoming the youngest player (20 years and 93 days old) to catch in a major league game since Hall of Famer Iván "Pudge" Rodríguez in 1991.
The 20-year-old catcher was promoted on Sept. 1 when the Padres expanded the roster from 26 to 28 players.
While Salas’ promotion to the big leagues brought forth excitement, his first week at the plate has been lackluster.
Salas has started three of the four games he's played in since the Padres called him up. He's struggled at the plate, going 0-for-10, including 0-for-4 in his debut against the Cincinnati Reds. He struck out twice in his debut.
"Slowly easing into it, getting more comfortable every at-bat, every game, every day
I'm out there," Salas told reporters after the Padres' win on Monday, Sept. 7. "Every day, honestly, just seeing how the ship is run and I'm getting comfortable just adjusting. I feel good. My swings feel good.
"There are a few small things I can work on. It's baseball and I'm young … I'm staying locked in and trying to help this team win as much as possible."
Salas, who is known for his defensive skills, was considered the organization’s top prospect in 2026. He made his Triple-A debut in late July, delivering a three-hit performance in El Paso, Texas.
Padres catcher Luis Campusano is someone on the roster who may have an understanding of Salas' transition to the major leagues.
While Salas isn't seeing consistent playing time early on, Campusano believes there is still plenty the young catcher can take away from the experience.
"It’s great; good for him," Campusano told The San Diego Union-Tribune on Friday, Sept. 4. "He’ll be here learning, and we’ll be here teaching him the ropes and getting his feet wet a little bit. But he’s young, obviously, and lots to learn, and that’s why we’re here for him, too. To teach him all that stuff. But he’s in a good spot, so excited for him.”
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Ethan Salas? San Diego Padres' prospect called up for September
