Playing against your bro in pro ball? Dream becomes reality for Salas brothers
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Starting behind the plate for Double-A San Antonio on Tuesday night: Ethan Salas.
Starting at shortstop for Double-A Wichita: Jose Salas.
It marked the first time that the elder Salas brothers have matched up throughout their Minor League careers. Ethan (MLB's No. 94 prospect) and the Missions claimed an 8-3 win over Jose’s Wind Surge at Nelson Wolff Stadium, but it was also a reminder of their respective long journeys to this point and what's still to come.
But this isn’t the first time that a pair of Salas brothers has faced off in the Minors. Last May, Jose and Single-A Fort Myers took on youngest brother, Andrew Salas (MIA No. 11) and Jupiter.
“Us three brothers, we’re super close," Jose said last year. "We call each other almost every day.”
There was no need for long-distance calling Tuesday as Jose and Ethan got up close and personal. Ethan was behind the dish for San Antonio, meaning he’d have Jose digging into the batter’s box in front of him four times. After all, who knows how to help pitchers attack you better than a younger brother?
Ethan claimed bragging rights out of the gate, clobbering his sixth homer of the season in the first. It continued a torrid run for the Padres’ No. 2 prospect, who has looked every bit the top international prospect from the 2023 class as he returns to form after a back injury waylaid his '25 campaign.
Ethan enjoyed a stretch of five homers in seven games from April 24-May 2 and is slashing .324/.409/.649 across 10 contests to open May. His overall .947 OPS is on pace to smash his previous career high despite being the second-youngest regular in the Texas League.
Jose is a former top international talent as well, having ranked No. 14 overall in 2019. He was dealt from Miami to Minnesota as part of the Luis Arraez/Pablo López deal and is still looking to find his footing offensively in pro ball. Andrew, who checked in at No. 5 on the ‘25 International Prospects list, received a similarly aggressive push as Ethan to open his own pro career, jumping straight to Single-A last spring.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to be able to play against my brothers,” said Jose. “And that’s just one dream. The main goal is to have this in the big leagues."