PROSPECT: Ethan Salas, C, San Diego Padres
ANALYSIS: The top international signee this January, Ethan Salas received a $5.6 million bonus, an enormous amount in the modern international signing era. For reference, the Padres had just $5,285,500 in bonus pool money in the 2023 period, so the Padres invested a lot of money in Salas.
The rumors during spring training began to fly about his elite defense and potential power, with veteran Padre pitchers raving about his performance behind the plate. His arm was also on display in a handful of games, showing pop times that would be elite among MLB catchers.
Salas skipped straight over complex ball to full-season ball at 17 years old, but he's held his own, hitting .267/.350/.487 with nine home runs and 22 extra-base hits over 220 plate appearances. He's only caught half of his appearances thus far as the Padres attempt to ease him into a catcher's workload, but the raw tools are incredibly impressive.
VERDICT: It's rare to suggest a catching prospect lower than Triple-A should be rostered in all levels of dynasty, let alone a teenage catcher, but Salas is the type of unicorn that warrants that. If he's available in your dynasty league, he shouldn't be.
More Fantasy Baseball Analysis
E.J. Exposito - Fantasy Baseball Prospects Outlook and Analysis (Week 7)
What Appears In This Article? hide 1. More Fantasy Baseball Analysis PROSPECT: E.J. Exposito, 2B, Atlanta Braves CURRENT LEVEL: High-A 2024 STATS: 18 G, .277/.351/.631, Six HR, 12 RBI, 13 R, Eight SB, 10.8% BB%, 28.4% K%, .308 BABIP, .438 wOBA, 171 wRC+ ANALYSIS: Exposito is a former 16th-round pick who played college ball at Long... Read More
Chayce McDermott - Fantasy Baseball Prospects Outlook and Analysis (Week 7)
PROSPECT: Chayce McDermott, SP, Baltimore Orioles CURRENT LEVEL: Triple-A 2024 STATS: Seven G, Six GS, 1-1, 28.0 IP, 2.89 ERA, 4.16 FIP, 13.18 K/9, 8.04 BB/9, 0.32 HR/9, 40.4% GB%, .293 BABIP ANALYSIS: The Orioles seem to have struck gold again with yet another talented prospect on the verge of making their major league debut. McDermott,... Read More
Drew Gilbert - Fantasy Baseball Prospects Outlook, Analysis, and Injury Update (Week 7)
PROSPECT: Drew Gilbert, OF, New York Mets CURRENT LEVEL: Triple-A (Injured) BALLER MOVE: Stash in Dynasty/Keeper Leagues ANALYSIS: New York Mets outfielder Drew Gilbert (hamstring), the top prospect the Mets acquired from the Houston Astros in the Justin Verlander trade last summer, hasn't played in the minors since straining his right hamstring in the second game of an April 6... Read More
Robert Hassell III - Fantasy Baseball Prospects Outlook and Analysis (Week 7)
PROSPECT: Robert Hassell III, OF, Washington Nationals CURRENT LEVEL: Double-A 2024 STATS: 22 G, .341/.434/.471, Two HR, 10 RBI, 16 R, Eight SB, 12.0% BB%, 20.0% K%, .429 BABIP, .421 wOBA, 163 wRC+ ANALYSIS: Hassell is a former first-round pick who was flipped to Washington during the trade that made Juan Soto a Padre. The talented left-hander gets... Read More
Cade Horton - Fantasy Baseball Prospects Waiver Wire Stashes (Week 7)
BALLER MOVE: Stash in Deeper Leagues CALL-UP ETA: July ANALYSIS: With Jackson Jobe a little further away and Andrew Painter recovering from major surgery, the only other elite pitching prospect with a chance of coming even remotely close to Skenes in terms of immediate impact is Chicago's Cade Horton who recently was promoted to Triple-A Iowa. Horton ascended to top... Read More
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!