17-year-old Padres prospect continues remarkable rise through system

After beginning the year at low-A Lake Elsinore, batting .267/.350/.487 with two home runs and nine RBI, Salas was promoted to High-A Fort Wayne after 48 games. Though he wasn't there long, playing only nine games before receiving the promotion to Double-A San Antonio.  

Salas's numbers weren't outstanding with Fort Wayne, finishing 7-of-35 with a double and three runs scored. However, his approach and defense behind the plate warranted the Padres to make a move, perhaps to see what Salas could do against an even higher level of competition.  

Ranked as the top-catching prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline, Salas has what scouts believe to be five-tool potential behind the plate, a rare skillset for the position. And, after signing the No. 1 international player available for a cool $5.6 million in the offseason, the Padres seem eager to see him in the big leagues sooner rather than later. 

The Padres have high hopes for Salas and also may value him above all others in their prospect pool or otherwise. Jim Callis of MLB.com recently told Ben Fadden of Talking Friars that Salas could be MLB bound before he turns 20 and that the Padres view Salas as the "MVP" of their crop of players, even above those on the major league roster. 

Salas isn't the only teenager zooming up the minor league ranks at an insane pace. Recently, 19-year-old Baltimore Orioles infield prospect Jackson Holliday received the call-up to Double-A after spending 71 games in Single-A. The 2022 No. 1 overall pick is raking for the Double-A Bowie Baysox, batting .340/.409/.526 with three homers and 12 RBI in 24 games. 

According to Baseball Reference, 204 players have made their major league debut this season. Of the bunch, 55 are 23 years old or younger, including Oakland A's second baseman Zack Gelof, New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe, and electric Cincinnati Reds infielder Elly De La Cruz. With Salas and Holliday's arrival to the bigs right around the corner, baseball's future looks extremely bright.