Ethan Salas gave the Padres a jolt in Denver on Wednesday, driving his first Major League homer deep into Coors Field and adding another marker to an already remarkable opening stretch of his career.
Key takeaways
- Salas opened the second inning with a 426-foot solo shot to center off Rockies right-hander Mason Adams.
- The homer put San Diego in front, 3-1, and came on the first pitch Salas saw in the inning.
- After beginning his career 0-for-15, the Padres’ top-ranked prospect recorded his first hit with a triple Sunday in San Francisco.
- Salas, who turned 20 in June, is the youngest big league catcher in 35 years.
- Only Roberto Alomar and Fernando Tatis Jr. were younger when they hit their first home runs as Padres.
Salas finds his first big league swing
The kid behind the plate did not wait around once he stepped in to lead off the second. Adams offered a fastball, and Salas turned it loose, sending the ball 426 feet over the center-field fence. It was the first home run of his Major League career and a clean piece of work in a ballpark that can reward a hitter but still asks him to square it up.
San Diego brought Salas to the majors with the postseason race in mind, believing his catching and composure could help the club down the stretch. The bat had been quiet at first, with Salas going without a hit through his first 15 at-bats. He broke through Sunday at Oracle Park, where his first big league knock went for a triple.
Wednesday’s swing gave him the next milestone, and it came with a little history attached. Salas is the youngest catcher to homer in the majors since Iván Rodríguez did it on Sept. 6, 1991. Rodríguez was also the last catcher younger than Salas to appear at the position in the big leagues.
The work behind the mask matters, too
There has been more to Salas’ early contribution than his first extra-base hits. He has looked steady behind the plate, including a sharp ABS challenge that ended the Rockies’ first inning and helped Robbie Ray leave two runners aboard.
That kind of moment is part of why the Padres were willing to hand the job to a 20-year-old in the middle of a push. The home run will make the highlight reel, especially with the ball carrying to straightaway center, but the receiving, game awareness and willingness to handle pressure are the pieces that can keep Salas in the middle of meaningful September innings.
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Meta Description: Padres catcher Ethan Salas hit his first Major League home run in Denver, becoming the youngest catcher to homer since Iván Rodríguez in 1991.
