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Ethan Salas Worth Targeting on the Waiver Wire Despite Slow Start?
San Diego Padres catcher Ethan Salas has gotten off to a slow start in the big leagues since making his MLB debut on September 2, as he's gone hitless in his first 10 plate appearances. Salas has also split playing time in the early going with fellow Padres catchers Luis Campusano and Freddy Fermin. However, the 20-year-old Salas is widely considered to be one of the top catcher prospects in all of baseball, so it could just be a matter of time before he takes over as the full-time backstop in San Diego. Across 405 plate appearances split between Double-A and Triple-A before his promotion, Salas hit .296/.374/.448 with 10 home runs, 61 RBI, 54 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases. Salas may struggle to get to significant power in his first taste of big-league action, but he's posted an impressive 11.6% walk rate while striking out in just 14.3% of his trips to the plate in the minors. In two-catcher formats, Salas could be worth targeting on the waiver wire just in case he takes over as the everyday catcher for the Padres down the stretch.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Padres Calling Up Catching Prospect Ethan Salas After Strong Triple-A Run
The San Diego Padres are set to call up top catching prospect Ethan Salas from Triple-A El Paso when rosters expand on Tuesday, according to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound 20-year-old backstop is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Padres' top prospect and the No. 23 overall prospect in all of baseball. At the catching position, he is ranked as the No. 4 prospect, behind Rainiel Rodriguez (Cardinals), Vahn Lackey (Twins), and Alfredo Duno (Reds). Salas, who hits from the left side, has turned heads in 24 games with El Paso in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, slashing .326/.410/.539 with a .949 OPS, three homers, 24 RBI, 13 runs scored, and three steals. He began the year at Double-A San Antonio and hit .286 (74-for-259) with seven homers, 37 RBI, 14 steals, and 41 runs scored in 72 games for the Missions. There are still mixed reviews as to how high a ceiling Salas has offensively, and it is unclear how much he will play in San Diego, which already has catchers Freddy Fermin and Luis Campusano on the major-league roster. Fantasy managers in redraft leagues should not be expecting fireworks from Salas in September.
Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune - Kevin Acee
Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune - Kevin Acee
Ethan Salas Showing Off Hitting Prowess At Triple-A
San Diego Padres catcher prospect Ethan Salas is on fire at Triple-A El Paso with three homers and 23 RBI in 86 at bats while hitting .326. The star left-handed hitter was called up to Triple-A on July 29 after hitting seven homers with 37 RBI at Double-A San Antonio in 259 at bats. Look for the 20-year-old to be a fantasy factor if he is to debut this season in San Diego. He is well worth stashing and waiting for a potential call-up to San Diego this season. Salas is the Padres' top overall prospect and has a 50-grade hit tool with 50-grade power and has the hitting tools to be successful right away in fantasy leagues at the catcher position. Right now the Padres have the catching duo of Luis Campusano and Freddy Fermin but if Salas is to break through and get a look this year, he should be an instant fantasy success.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Ethan Salas Excelling on Doorstep to Major Leagues
San Diego Padres catcher prospect Ethan Salas has excelled since being promoted to Triple-A El Paso in late July, now hitting .319 with three home runs and a .948 OPS through 19 games with the Chihuahuas. What's more is that the Padres' top-ranked prospect has walked (10) more times than he has struck out (eight) while being one of only a few 20-year-olds at that level. The left-handed hitter came into professional baseball as a highly-ranked prospect, but after a disappointing 2024 and an injury-marred 2025 in which he logged only 10 games, he had fallen outside the top 100 prospects, per MLB.com. However, the youngster has risen all the way back up to No. 23 overall in 2026 and is now on the doorstep to the majors. While a debut this season is likely a long shot, it isn't out of the question, so fantasy managers should keep tabs on the 20-year-old, as he offers an advanced approach with decent pop at the catcher position. His dynasty arrow is finally pointing up again after some uncertainty over the last couple of years.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Ethan Salas Brings Great Upside But MLB Debut is Uncertain
In 18 games with Triple-A El Paso, San Diego Padres catcher prospect Ethan Salas is hitting .338 with three homers and 20 RBI in an impressive showing since his July 29 promotion from Double-A San Antonio. The 20-year-old left-handed hitter is the top overall prospect in the Padres' system and is considered one of the top prospects in baseball. Considered an excellent fielder with a 50-grade hit tool and 50-grade power and the ability to play behind the plate, he is a can't miss prospect for the Padres. San Diego currently has Luis Campusano and Freddy Fermin available at catcher and could just close the season out with those two. Salas would bring great upside to fantasy rosters this season, but he is more likely to debut next season and get some more time at Triple-A this season.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Ethan Salas Promoted to Triple-A as 2026 MLB Debut is in Reach
San Diego Padres catching prospect Ethan Salas is being promoted to Triple-A El Paso, according to Chase Ford of MiLB Central. Salas is viewed as the No. 1 prospect in the San Diego system and will now sit just one step away from the major leagues. The young backup endured some growing pains during the 2024 season and appeared in only 10 games last summer, but he has rebounded quite nicely in 2026. In 2024, Salas spent 111 games with High-A, where he held a .206/.288/.311 line with a low .599 OPS. However, this season at Double-A, Salas has carried a sharp .286/.361/.417 slash line with 13 doubles, seven home runs and 14 stolen bases. While a late-season MLB debut is unlikely, his promotion has kept the door open. The 20-year-old remains one of the top catching prospects in the entire sport and is the long-term answer behind the dish for the Padres.
Source: Chase Ford
Source: Chase Ford
Ethan Salas Reclaiming Dynasty Value in Bounce-Back Season
San Diego Padres catching prospect Ethan Salas saw his value take a hit during the 2025 season when he appeared in only 10 games due to injury. However, Salas had spent the entire 2026 season at Double-A and had rebounded quite nicely. Across 63 contests with San Antonio this season, the backstop has posted a strong .284/.353/.422 slash line with a .775 OPS. During this campaign, the catcher has gone deep seven times and has even chipped in 14 stolen bases. In his last full season (2024), Salas posted a .206/.288/.311 line with only four home runs and a mere 10 stolen bases. Seeing him not only rebound from his injury but produce career-best marks against tougher pitching is an excellent sign. The team's top-ranked prospect could earn a late-season call to Triple-A if he maintains this trajectory.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Padres Promote Catching Prospect Blake Hunt, Can He Establish a Consistent Role?
San Diego Padres catching prospect Blake Hunt has been called up from Triple-A El Paso ahead of the team's game on Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles. Hunt is taking Padres catcher Freddy Fermin's (concussion) spot on the active roster after Fermin was placed on the seven-day concussion IL. Hunt missed the start of the 2026 season due to an oblique strain and has logged just 32 plate appearances this year at Triple-A. Across 280 plate appearances at Triple-A as a member of the Seattle Mariners system in 2025, Hunt hit .272/.368/.452 with eight home runs, 35 RBI, 30 runs scored, and one stolen base. At 27 years old, Hunt does not profile as a high-upside prospect. Still, he should have a chance to emerge as the Padres' starting catcher while Fermin is out. San Diego's other catching option on the active roster is Rodolfo Duran, who owns a .683 OPS across 38 plate appearances this season.
Source: San Diego Padres
Source: San Diego Padres
