This story was excerpted from AJ Cassavell’s Padres Beat e-newsletter. To learn the total e-newsletter, click on right here. And subscribe to get it repeatedly in your inbox.
The Padres have by no means been shy about difficult Ethan Salas, their 18-year-old high prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 5 prospect general. The membership put him into an enormous league Spring Coaching recreation at 16. It promoted him for the Double-A playoffs at 17.
And on Wednesday evening? The Padres requested Salas to backstop a pitcher greater than twice his age — a five-time All-Star and an inter-continental famous person.
Yu Darvish made his first rehab begin as he works his method again from a left groin damage that sidelined him late final month. He did so at Excessive-A Fort Wayne, with Salas behind the plate.
Darvish allowed six runs over 3 1/3 innings, although he felt high quality in response to reviews. He did not precisely have the cleanest recreation performed behind him, both, given the make-up of his Excessive-A-level protection.
Nonetheless, the Padres seen it as a beneficial expertise for Salas, who labored minimally with the staff’s veterans throughout large league Spring Coaching. (He principally caught fellow Minor Leaguers, noting on the time, “If the org thinks we are the guys who’re going to work collectively for a very long time, it is actually vital that we set up that [relationship] early, and I believe we did.”)
Salas’ second skilled season is off to a gradual begin on the plate. His 1-for-3 evening whereas catching Darvish introduced his common to .199, although he could be heating up. Salas is 6-for-15 with a pair of walks throughout his previous 4 video games. A staff supply cited Salas’ smaller actions on the plate and his improved timing as indicators of a turnaround.
Behind the plate, the Padres stay happy with Salas’ progress. They are saying he is been stable framing-wise, and he has graded out effectively over the previous couple of months. He is additionally throwing out runners at a 26 p.c clip, effectively above the MiLB common.
Naturally, Salas has strides to make in his improvement. He’s an 18-year-old enjoying the game’s most demanding place. However the Padres just like the progress he’s made lately.
Right here’s a fast go searching the remainder of the farm:
Triple-A El Paso: Nate Mondou was named the Minor League Participant of the Week on June 13 after going 9-for-20 with six extra-base hits. Meantime, Graham Pauley (the Padres’ No. 6 prospect), has struggled for a lot of the season, whether or not within the large leagues or Triple-A. His batting common with El Paso dipped to .212, and he was hitting .180 in June getting into Thursday.
Double-A San Antonio: Left-hander Robby Snelling (No. 2) has turned in two consecutive high quality begins — together with six innings of one-run ball on Saturday. Offensively, catcher Brandon Valenzuela (No. 11) has begun to warmth up in June. He’s hitting .340 with 4 residence runs this month.
Excessive-A Fort Wayne: Enjoying alongside Salas, Homer Bush Jr. (No. 8) wanted simply 60 video games to succeed in the mark of 30 steals. He’s reaching base at a .365 clip.
Single-A Lake Elsinore: The Storm clinched the first-half division title within the California League this week. Proper-hander Isaiah Lowe (No. 19) has starred, posting a 2.86 ERA, together with a 0.96 mark throughout his previous three outings, all high quality begins.