Where Will the Top Padres Prospect Wind Up in 2027?

Ethan Salas has spent plenty of time in the San Diego Padres organization. After being signed out of Venezuela as a 16-year-old catcher, he quickly became the Friars' No. 1 prospect. He fell from grace a bit due to a back injury that kept him out for most of the 2025 campaign. Since then, however, he's gone on a tear. Between two levels of the Padres' minor leagues, Salas hit .296/.374/.448 with 156 total bases in 96 games. In that time, Salas notched 21 extra-base hits with 10 homers.

That production earned Salas a call to the big leagues . Part of that decision was due to the major-league rosters expanding on September 1. But the young catcher did everything to earn that role with the big-league club. He's yet to break out immediately, getting the occasional start and pinch-hit opportunity. But Salas finally got his first hit on Sunday evening versus the San Francisco Giants . In the fourth inning of the series finale, the backstop tripled off the right-field wall. He's the youngest player to triple for his first career hit since Manny Machado did so on August 9, 2012.

Where Will Padres No. 1 Prospect Ethan Salas Be in 2027?

Salas is certain to receive an invite to spring training. The 20-year-old catcher has been invited to each of the last four spring trainings. In that time, Salas hasn't played that well. The best slash line he's compiled was .222/.273/.333 (eight games) in 2024. The catcher has flashed plenty of potential, but never in Cactus League play. It's possible that something changes this season, forcing him onto the Opening Day roster, though it seems incredibly unlikely.

The Padres have two viable catcher options in Luis Campusano and Freddy Fermin . Campusano has been much better at the plate this season. The backstop has had a breakout year at the dish with a .275/.374/.450 slash line. On the other hand, Fermin has struggled quite a bit with a .195 batting average. That said, Fermin's defense has proven quite valuable behind the plate. With that tandem, San Diego has options ahead of Salas. That makes it difficult for Salas to make it onto the major-league roster as a starter.

Because of that, Salas seems unlikely to be vying for a starter role in spring training. If he readily clears Fermin offensively, it's possible he gets selected for a bench role. That being said, it seems far more plausible that the Friars decide to leave Salas in the minors for some time. Despite those great numbers in the minors this season, Salas played just 24 games at the Triple-A level. That's not nearly enough time to develop against higher caliber pitching.

San Diego will likely want to bide their time with Salas. It's possible that he spends some time shuttling between Triple-A El Paso and the majors, but Salas seems all but certain to begin the 2027 season in Triple-A. He's spent some time with the big-league club, but hasn't proven success during that time. Even if he started raking for San Diego, it just doesn't seem like a viable option for the top prospect's future.

Without a clear path to the big-league roster and needing some time to develop at the plate, it is incredibly likely that the Friars send Salas to the El Paso Chihuahuas. In those 24 games with the team, Salas had a ridiculous .326/.410/.539 with eight extra-base hits and three homers. Those flashes of potential have been growing in Salas over his year in the Padres' organization. If he can build on that potential, he'll soon be the catcher of the future for San Diego.

However, it likely won't come until (at least) 2028. With Campusano not set to become a free agent until 2029, and Fermin following in 2030, Salas won't have a ready opportunity to start behind the dish until one of those two departs. If nothing else, Fermin's bat could regress enough that San Diego opts to give Salas a chance with the big-league club. That still seems to be a long way off for the top prospect, but hopes remain high within the organization for Salas' development.

Main Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports