Cesar Salazar

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #277 prospect in 2018 draft
  Salazar first came to the United States from his home in Hermosillo, Mexico for high school alongside Javier Medina, who was the third-round pick of the Rockies in 2015. While eligibility issues limited playing time for both Salazar and Medina in high school, Salazar has spent most of the last three years serving as Arizona's starting catcher. He has made big strides at the plate this year by adding strength, but he is still regarded as a defense-first catcher. He blocks and receives well and knows how to manage a pitching staff. His fringe-average arm plays up because his quick hands and feet allow him to get rid of the ball quickly. Salazar improved offensively in 2018 with solid bat-to-ball skills, but he is still more of a singles hitter who doesn't impact the baseball consistently. He has a short, compact swing, however, and could grow into more power. Most importantly, Salazar's intangibles allow all of his tools to play up. He'll be drafted in the top 10 rounds, primarily because of his leadership and skills behind the plate.