Ethan Salas

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #1 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 70/Very High
  
  Track Record: The Padres had $5.8 million to spend in the 2023 international signing class and they gave almost all of it--$5.6 million, tops among all international bonuses last year--to Salas. He is a rare five-tool catcher and a third-generation talent from one of his country’s best-known baseball families. Salas landed on the Padres’ radar while they courted his older brother Jose, who signed with the Marlins for $2.8 million in 2019, and they expected him to move quickly given his bloodlines, familiarity with professional baseball and pure talent. A sore throwing shoulder delayed the start of Salas’ pro debut season in 2023, but the Padres still assigned him to Low-A Lake Elsinore in late May while he was still a few days shy of his 17th birthday. A 16-year-old playing in full-season ball is exceedingly rare. The only others in recent history are Adrian Beltre in 1996 and Edgar Renteria in 1993, two players who, it was later learned, were illegally signed at age 15. Salas hit the ground running in the California League, winning the league’s player of the month award for July, which played into the Padres’ decision to aggressively promote him to High-A Fort Wayne in early August. Salas put up just a .472 OPS in nine games, but the Padres believed in his makeup and skill enough to promote him to Double-A San Antonio well before the Midwest League season ended. The move kept Salas developing alongside the organization’s next wave of talent. A knee sprain ended Salas’ season after nine games in the Texas League, but he should be ready by spring training.
  
  Scouting Report: Salas boasts a quick, compact swing and keeps his barrel in the hitting zone for a long time. He doesn’t yet have the raw power that Francisco Alvarez or Gary Sanchez showed as prospects, but he was already taking 97 mph fastballs over the wall as a teenager during his pro debut and is easy to project for more over-the-fence pop as he matures. Salas also already shows the ability to make adjustments on the fly. For example, he got back in the zone for a standout July after chasing early in his stay in Lake Elsinore. That’s an excellent profile for a corner outfielder, but what makes Salas’ potential even greater is that he’s an excellent defensive catcher for his age, showcasing soft hands, athletic blocking ability and outstanding receiving and exchanges. He also has a slightly above-average arm that should tick up to at least plus with natural strength progression. His arm already plays up because of his efficient transfer and release, leading to pop times under 1.9 seconds on throws to second base. Salas’ maturity showed as he emerged as a proactive partner in game-planning with older pitchers after getting his legs under him in pro ball.
  
  The Future: The Padres’ unquestioned catcher of the future--and perhaps sooner than many realize--Salas is a superstar in the making who could one day earn MVP votes, a la Buster Posey, for his ability to impact the game with his bat, defense and leadership skills with a pitching staff. n
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 60 | Power: 60 | Run: 45 | Field: 70 | Arm: 60
• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #7 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
  
  Track Record: The younger brother of Marlins shortstop prospect Jose Salas, Ethan has a remarkable combination of tools, polish and game awareness for his age. He's in the conversation for the best pure hitter in the class, with a lefthanded swing that's quick, compact and adjustable, keeping his barrel through the hitting zone for a long time.
  
  Scouting Report: He stays calm in the box with good rhythm and balance, recognizing pitches well with a mature approach that leads to frequent barrels and makes him a high on-base threat. Salas doesn't have the raw power that Francisco Alvarez or Gary Sanchez showed when they were amateurs, but as he's gotten stronger, he is showing more over-the-fence pop with the physical projection to grow into average or potentially more power. That would be a good profile for even a corner outfielder, but what makes Salas' potential even greater is that he's an excellent defensive catcher for his age. Salas is an athletic catcher whose blocking, receiving and throwing mechanics are all exemplary for his age, with a slightly above-average arm that should tick up to at least a 60 with natural strength progression. His arm already plays up because of his efficient transfer and release, leading to pop times under 1.9 seconds in games.
  
  The Future: Salas should make his pro debut in the DSL in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 45. Speed: 40. Fielding: 60. Arm: 55

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #9 prospect in 2024
• Ranked Baseball America's #6 prospect in 2023

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
  
  Track Record: The younger brother of Marlins shortstop prospect Jose Salas, Ethan has a remarkable combination of tools, polish and game awareness for his age. He's in the conversation for the best pure hitter in the class, with a lefthanded swing that's quick, compact and adjustable, keeping his barrel through the hitting zone for a long time.
  
  Scouting Report: He stays calm in the box with good rhythm and balance, recognizing pitches well with a mature approach that leads to frequent barrels and makes him a high on-base threat. Salas doesn't have the raw power that Francisco Alvarez or Gary Sanchez showed when they were amateurs, but as he's gotten stronger, he is showing more over-the-fence pop with the physical projection to grow into average or potentially more power. That would be a good profile for even a corner outfielder, but what makes Salas' potential even greater is that he's an excellent defensive catcher for his age. Salas is an athletic catcher whose blocking, receiving and throwing mechanics are all exemplary for his age, with a slightly above-average arm that should tick up to at least a 60 with natural strength progression. His arm already plays up because of his efficient transfer and release, leading to pop times under 1.9 seconds in games.
  
  The Future: Salas should make his pro debut in the DSL in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 45. Speed: 40. Fielding: 60. Arm: 55
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
  
  Track Record: The younger brother of Marlins shortstop prospect Jose Salas, Ethan has a remarkable combination of tools, polish and game awareness for his age. He's in the conversation for the best pure hitter in the class, with a lefthanded swing that's quick, compact and adjustable, keeping his barrel through the hitting zone for a long time.
  
  Scouting Report: He stays calm in the box with good rhythm and balance, recognizing pitches well with a mature approach that leads to frequent barrels and makes him a high on-base threat. Salas doesn't have the raw power that Francisco Alvarez or Gary Sanchez showed when they were amateurs, but as he's gotten stronger, he is showing more over-the-fence pop with the physical projection to grow into average or potentially more power. That would be a good profile for even a corner outfielder, but what makes Salas' potential even greater is that he's an excellent defensive catcher for his age. Salas is an athletic catcher whose blocking, receiving and throwing mechanics are all exemplary for his age, with a slightly above-average arm that should tick up to at least a 60 with natural strength progression. His arm already plays up because of his efficient transfer and release, leading to pop times under 1.9 seconds in games.
  
  The Future: Salas should make his pro debut in the DSL in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 45. Speed: 40. Fielding: 60. Arm: 55