Padres' Ethan Salas makes history with triple as first MLB hit

San Diego Padres catcher Ethan Salas. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Padres' Ethan Salas makes history with triple as first MLB hit

By Mike J. Asti | Last updated Sep 13, 2026 10:47 PM ET

Enjoying a September call-up during a playoff race, Ethan Salas was struggling at the plate and had yet to record a hit until Sunday night.

But that changed in a big way in his seventh game with the San Diego Padres.

Ethan Salas' first MLB hit was for three bases and historic

Salas made history when he tripled as his first MLB hit in the top of the fourth inning in San Francisco against the Giants. Rocketing a 2-2 pitch to deep right field, Salas was just shy of going yard, but ended up with an historic triple instead.

At 20 years old and 144 days, Salas became the youngest player in franchise history to record a triple.

He also became the youngest catcher to hit a triple since Ricky Seilheimer did so on July 25, 1980, at 19 years and 330 days.

At 20 years & 104 days, Ethan Salas is the: - youngest player in Padres history with a triple - youngest MLB player with a triple as catcher since 7/25/80 Ricky Seilheimer (19y 330d)
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) September 14, 2026

Salas was 0-for-14 in six games prior to his monumental swing of the bat in the series finale with the Giants.

Salas was the top international free agent in 2023

The Padres called up Salas, who they signed as one of the top international free agents in January 2023, on Sept. 1 of this year. Before being called up, Salas crushed 10 home runs, posted 61 RBI and stole 17 bases across 96 games and 405 at-bats in AA and Triple-A combined in 2026. He registered a minor league slash line of .296/.374/.448.

Born in Kissimmee, Fla., Salas spent time growing up in Florida, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela.

San Diego now hopes Salas' first hit sparks a hot final few weeks of the season and maybe even into the playoffs.

Mike J. Asti

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

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