Ethan Salas

Ethan Salas has been diagnosed with a stress reaction in his lower back and is expected to be sidelined until July, San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller announced Monday. Salas was initially placed on Double-A San Antonio's 7-day injured list in early May with back spasms, but further evaluation revealed the more significant injury.

Fantasy Impact

The young catcher will treat the back injury with rest and rehab. According to the team, there is hope Salas will be ready to resume playing in approximately two months.

The Padres moved Ethan Salas to minor league camp on Thursday, per team reports.

Fantasy Impact

Salas, an 18-year-old top prospect with slick defensive skills behind the plate, was a non-roster invitee but pegged for the minors from the jump—his .206/.288/.311 line at High-A Fort Wayne in 2024 shows he’s got offensive work ahead. Fantasy managers in dynasty leagues can keep him stashed; his bat needs time to catch up to his glove.