Home / Sports / 20-Year-Old Phenom Makes MLB Postseason History
20-Year-Old Phenom Makes MLB Postseason History
1 Oct
Summary
- Ethan Salas will be the youngest catcher in a major league postseason game.
- He previously became the youngest catcher in MLB since Iván Rodríguez.
- Salas received a record $5.6 million bonus as an international free agent.
Ethan Salas is poised to become the youngest player to ever catch in a major league postseason game. The 20-year-old is scheduled to start for the San Diego Padres in Game 2 of their NL Wild Card Series against the Chicago Cubs. This start also makes him the youngest player to appear in a postseason game for the Padres franchise.
Salas, born in June 2006, was called up by the Padres on September 1. He had previously become the youngest player to catch in a major league game since Iván 'Pudge' Rodríguez in 1991. Despite an initial hitless streak, Salas finished the regular season strong, batting 10 for 24. His clutch hitting, including a multi-homer game on September 16, and defensive prowess secured his spot on the postseason roster.
Manager Craig Stammen praised Salas's talent, character, and maturity, highlighting his readiness for playoff challenges. Salas will catch veteran pitcher Nick Pivetta, with whom he has established a good rapport during the regular season and rehab sessions. The Padres signed Salas, who was raised in Venezuela, as an international free agent in January 2023, awarding him a record $5.6 million bonus.
Despite trading many top prospects, General Manager AJ Preller retained Salas, who is considered one of baseball's premier catching prospects. This aligns with the Padres' strategy of giving young talent playoff experience, following similar postseason debuts by Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill at age 21.
