One of baseball’s most hyped teenage prospects just received a reality check.
But inside the Padres organization, this move is less about disappointment—and more about patience.

Padres Reassign Top Prospect Ethan Salas to Minor League Camp as Spring Roster Tightens

The San Diego Padres made a pair of quiet but meaningful roster decisions Monday night, and one of them involved one of the most talked-about young prospects in baseball.

The team officially reassigned elite catching prospect Ethan Salas to minor league camp, trimming the spring training roster as Opening Day approaches. In a separate move, right-handed pitcher Daison Acosta cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A El Paso, opening a spot on San Diego’s 40-man roster.

With these adjustments, the Padres now have 58 players remaining in Major League camp.

While the announcement itself wasn’t shocking, it highlights an important moment in the development path of one of the organization’s most intriguing young talents.

Ethan Salas Sent Back to Continue Development

For most observers, Salas’ reassignment was expected.

As spring training progresses, teams gradually reduce roster sizes, and highly regarded prospects often return to minor league camp to continue developing away from the pressure of the Major League roster.

Salas has long been viewed as the Padres’ catcher of the future, but his journey to the majors still requires time.

The Venezuelan standout gained national attention in 2023 when San Diego aggressively promoted him to Double-A at just 17 years old—a rare leap that signaled enormous confidence in his potential.

However, the rapid climb has also come with challenges.

Offensive Struggles and Injury Slow Progress

Over the past two seasons, Salas has experienced the typical growing pains of a young prospect facing advanced competition.

During the 2024 season, he spent most of his time at High-A, where he posted a .206 batting average with a .599 OPS.

His progress was further disrupted in 2025, when a back injury limited him to just 10 games at Double-A. In those appearances, he hit .188 with a .544 OPS.

While those numbers might raise concerns for some fans, the Padres remain confident in Salas’ long-term outlook.

After all, he is still only 19 years old—an age when many prospects are just beginning their professional journeys.

For San Diego, patience remains the key.

Still a Major Piece of the Padres’ Future

Despite the recent struggles, Salas continues to be regarded as one of the organization’s most valuable young players.

Scouts still praise his:

Advanced defensive instincts
Leadership behind the plate
Strong game-calling ability
Mature presence for his age

The current plan likely places Salas back at Double-A to begin the season, allowing him to regain confidence offensively while continuing to refine his defensive skills.

For a player with his ceiling, development is measured in years—not months.

Daison Acosta Remains in the Organization

The Padres’ second roster move involved 27-year-old pitcher Daison Acosta.

After being placed on waivers, Acosta went unclaimed, allowing the Padres to outright him to Triple-A El Paso while keeping him within the organization.

The move also frees up a valuable 40-man roster spot, giving San Diego additional flexibility as they finalize their Opening Day roster.

Acosta signed a Major League contract with the Padres in December, despite never appearing in an MLB game.

The right-hander originally joined professional baseball when he signed with the New York Mets in 2016. After several seasons in the minors, he was selected by the Washington Nationals in the minor league phase of the 2023 Rule 5 Draft.

Dominant at Double-A, Mixed Results in Triple-A

Acosta’s 2025 season showed two very different performances depending on the level.

At Triple-A, he appeared in 19 games, posting a 4.71 ERA with 24 strikeouts across 21 innings.

But earlier in the season at Double-A, he was dominant. Over 30 innings, Acosta recorded a 1.50 ERA while striking out 46 batters, displaying the swing-and-miss potential that likely caught the Padres’ attention.

Now in Triple-A El Paso, he’ll look to continue refining his arsenal while positioning himself for a possible big-league opportunity.

Padres Continue Shaping Opening Day Roster

With 58 players still in Major League camp, additional roster cuts are expected in the coming weeks as the Padres finalize their lineup for Opening Day.

For prospects like Ethan Salas, the reassignment isn’t a setback—it’s part of a longer development plan.

San Diego believes strongly in his future.

And while the teenage catcher may still be years away from his MLB debut, the organization continues to view him as a cornerstone piece of the franchise’s next generation.