Padres top prospect providing more hope for 2025 arrival with AFL hot streak

While many baseball fans are focused on the World Series at the moment, followers of the San Diego Padres are already looking forward to next season. The Padres bounced back in a huge way in 2024, and while there is a chance that some key contributors will be playing elsewhere next season, the future looks incredibly bright in San Diego. One reason why that's the case is due to the presence of top prospect Ethan Salas.

After the Padres signed Salas as the top international prospect back in January 2023 for a whopping $5.6 million, San Diego showed their confidence in him by aggressively promoting Salas all the way to Double-A in his first year as a pro. 2024 was a bit of a step back production-wise for the young slugger, but you will struggle to find many who don't think that he could be a special catcher in the big leagues despite his down year.

Instead of giving Salas the offseason to relax, the Padres decided to keep him on the fast track to the majors by sending him to the Arizona Fall League for some more reps against high level competition.

Fortunately, Salas has been showing out in the AFL, which raises some very interesting roster questions for the Padres in 2025.

Ethan Salas is crushing it in the AFL which makes a 2025 debut much more likely

Traditionally, catchers need a while to develop as they have more niche skills (blocking, calling games, etc.) that they have to learn, and that is especially true of teenagers like Salas. However, Salas' skillset is mature beyond his years which explains why the Padres have been been so aggresive in trying to get him to the majors.

The team's faith in Salas has been rewarded with his performance in the AFL. Through 13 games and 61 plate appearances, Salas has slashed .308/.393/.519 with seven extra-base hits, including a pair of homers. Definitely an improvement over the .519 OPS he posted in the regular season and it has come against competition that is much older and more experienced than him.

If Salas keeps this up, San Diego is going to have to make a decision soon as to when he is going to get an opportunity in the big leagues. Starting the season with the Padres is probably a reach especially if they bring back Kyle Higashioka, but promoting Salas at some point next season is becoming increasingly likely given how the Padres have treated him thus far.

It is going to be up to Salas to make that happen. If he scuffles in spring training or in the minor leagues in 2025, he may get held down for another year, and that is OK. At some point, he is going to get his opportunity because his talent is too big to be held down forever. However, don't be surprised if Salas forces himself into the call-up conversation much sooner than that.

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