When Ethan Salas arrived in the California League on May 30, he immediately displayed talent well beyond his years.
The Padres assigned Salas to Low-A Lake Elsinore this season when he was just 16 years old, making him the first player that age to appear in the full-season minor leagues since Julio Urias in 2013.
Salas, who signed in January and bypassed Rookie ball entirely, reached base in seven of his first eight plate appearances, turned 17 two days after his arrival and never slowed down.
Salas hit .267/.350/.487 with nine home runs and 35 RBIs in 48 games for Lake Elsinore before earning a promotion to High-A Fort Wayne—and eventually Double-A San Antonio in late August.
Beyond the numbers, the Venezuelan catcher showed an uncanny knowledge of the strike zone
