The San Diego Padres faced a catching void after Luis Campusano suffered a broken toe. The front office sidestepped pressure from the Friar Faithful to promote Ethan Salas to the majors by calling up Rodolfo Duran instead. And for the moment, the Padres will let Salas stay and develop in the minors.
It was the right move.
Salas needs some seasoning
Yes, his call-up could be on the horizon. But the organizational mindset appears to have changed toward Salas. It makes sense to keep him at the team’s Double-A affiliate, San Antonio, and let Salas develop his skills without pressure from above.
A very different approach to the standard in today’s baseball, where teams bring up top prospects and let them develop at the big league level. One problem with that equation for the Friars is that their prized prospect has not played much in his minor league career.
Salas nearly missed the entire 2025 season (played 10 games) due to a lower back stress reaction. Team doctors believe injuries of this nature are common for young catchers who are handling a professional baseball workload for the first time. The lost season hindered his growth, leaving him behind front-office expected development projections.
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He has put together quite a body of work in the first month of the 2026 season. Salas is hitting .322/.398/.567 with five home runs, 17 RBI, and a .965 OPS in 26 games. The 19-year-old backstop is a slick defender who is figuring it out in the batter’s box.
Despite the early-season success, the club feels staying in the minors is the best course for long-term success in the majors. However, a hot bat could expedite his target date.
Padres sticking with the veterans
The Padres’ front office is operating with a newfound sense of urgency following last postseason’s early exit in the Wildcard round against the Chicago Cubs. The 2026 roster is veteran-heavy, featuring 15 players aged 30 and older. In fact, the Friars are the fourth-oldest team in the majors, with an average age of 30 years and six months.
This group seems to be fighting for one another every night, despite the disappointing results of late. Yes, the first six weeks of the season have felt like a roller-coaster ride. But team chemistry should be left untouched.
Granted, roster moves might come later if the Padres fall into an extended descent. Salas could be called up at that time. The hope is for him to contribute and help the team win games. If he is ready to make his major league debut, it could happen after the All-Star break.
Do not read much into the Padres not calling up Salas from the minors. It does not change their opinion of him or what type of player they believe he will become.
In hindsight, the Friars thought it was the right move to leave Salas in San Antonio. Time will tell if that decision pays off.
