San Diego Padres top prospect Ethan Salas is set to make history as the youngest catcher in Major League Baseball postseason history. At 20 years old, Salas will start behind the plate and bat seventh for the Padres in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series against the Chicago Cubs at Petco Park.
Manager Craig Stammen announced the lineup, cementing Salas’ status as the youngest catcher to ever play in a postseason game. He is also the youngest player to appear in a postseason contest for the Padres franchise. The previous record for youngest postseason catcher was held by Bob Didier, who was 20 years and 230 days old when he caught for the Atlanta Braves in the 1969 NL Championship Series.
Rapid Ascent to the Major Leagues
The Padres called up Salas from the minor leagues on September 1, making him the youngest player to catch in an MLB game since Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez in 1991. Born in June 2006, Salas endured an initial 0-for-15 slump in the big leagues before finishing the regular season strong with a 10-for-24 surge.
His late-season performance featured several clutch hits, highlighted by a multi-homer game on September 16 that made him the youngest catcher in MLB history to achieve the feat. Beyond his bat, Padres coaching and pitching staff lauded his defensive capabilities and strong command of Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenges.
“One, he’s a very talented player, and then probably two is his character and maturity that go with it,” manager Craig Stammen said regarding the decision to include Salas on the playoff roster. “You add talent, you add character, and it adds up to a pretty nice little combo.”
Battery Mate and Strategic Matchup
For his postseason debut, Salas will catch veteran right-hander Nick Pivetta. The two built a working relationship during the regular season and Pivetta’s injury rehab assignments.
As a left-handed hitter, Salas offers a strategic platoon advantage against Chicago Cubs right-handed starting pitcher Kevin Gausman. The Padres secured an 8-0 victory in Game 1 against left-hander Matthew Boyd and enter Game 2 having won 18 of their last 21 games.
Highly Regarded International Prospect
Signed out of Venezuela as an international free agent in January 2023 with a record $5.6 million bonus, Salas has consistently lived up to heavy expectations. While general manager AJ Preller traded away numerous top-tier minor leaguers over the years in pursuit of immediate World Series contention, Salas remained untouched as a foundational piece of the franchise.
The Padres have a track record of deploying young stars early in the playoffs. Fernando Tatis Jr. made his postseason debut at age 21 in 2020, and outfielder Jackson Merrill debuted in the postseason at age 21 in 2024.
“He’s got enormous amounts of confidence, which is what I love to see out of young kids,” teammate Jackson Merrill said. “He trusts himself, we trust him, and I think that bounces back on each other.”
