Padres can’t let one obvious mistake undermine Ethan Salas’ call-up

The Padres are calling up Ethan Salas, and we should all be excited. It also comes with a requirement. If the Friars are serious about this, he needs to play. It would be weird if they used the space on their expanded roster for their top prospect to enjoy a month of major-league sightseeing. Salas belongs because the Padres believe he can help them win. So they should act like it.

Freddy Fermin and Luis Campusano have earned their places behind the plate. Salas can still receive several starts each week between catcher and DH, then remain available as a left-handed option late in games when he doesn’t start. Sitting for several nights before receiving one pinch-hit appearance won’t work.

Padres need a real Ethan Salas playing-time plan

Salas earned this opportunity because his bat has been on point. After slashing .286/.361/.417 in 72 games at Double-A San Antonio, he slashed .326/.410/.539 with a .949 OPS during his first 24 games at Triple-A El Paso.

The Padres clearly believe that growth is legitimate. They are placing a 20-year-old catcher directly in the middle of a Wild Card race with almost no margin for dead roster space.

If Salas appears behind the plate, he would become the youngest catcher to play in the majors since Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez in 1991. 

The Padres have at-bats available. Luis Rengifo and Gavin Sheets landed on the IL, weakening the bench and removing two regular lineup options. Salas can receive DH starts against right-handed pitching. His presence also gives San Diego enough catching coverage to use Campusano more aggressively as a hitter.

Salas still has to learn the pitching staff and it might be ambitious to start him on his first day with the roster. But they can definitely give him scheduled starts behind the plate. Let him work with pitchers he caught during their Triple-A rehab assignments. Put his bat in the lineup often enough for him to establish a rhythm.

Harry Ford showed how quickly a September call-up can disappear

The Mariners supplied a warning with Harry Ford last September. They promoted its top catching prospect for the stretch run, then gave him six at-bats across eight regular-season games. His only start came during the final weekend, after Seattle had secured its postseason position.

Ford spent most of the month waiting behind Cal Raleigh and Mitch Garver. Seattle received additional catching insurance. Ford received a handful of scattered plate appearances. That arrangement served the roster more than the player.

The Padres should not replicate that. Salas will have ugly swings. Let him. He might mishandle a pitch or look overmatched against a late-inning reliever. Those moments provide information. They give the Padres something to coach and Salas something to process. Sitting on the bench provides neither.

Calling him up was bold. Now they need to play him to make this decision worthwhile.

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