Salas' big night (HR, 4 RBI) highlights Padres' Spring Breakout

MESA, Ariz. -- When the Padres signed Ethan Salas as the top ranked international prospect in the 2023 class, they envisioned nights like this one.

Salas took over Saturday’s Spring Breakout game against the Cubs, MLB’s annual showcase of the top prospects from every team. He launched a go-ahead three-run homer (and executed a smooth bat drop in the aftermath). He singled and stole a base. He threw out two Cubs base stealers and made an excellent catch in foul territory.

The Padres would lose the game, 7-5. But this was the Ethan Salas that they’ve always envisioned. Except, well, it’s been a while since they’ve gotten to see it.

Salas didn’t play after April 27 last season due to a back injury. He’d struggled at the plate the season before. Naturally, then, Salas -- once a consensus top prospect in the sport -- plummeted in prospect rankings. He didn’t check in on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list (or most others).

Not that he’s paying any attention.

“Not at all,” Salas said. “The guys in this clubhouse know who I am. I don’t think any prospect rank or not determines that -- determines how I am as a teammate, as a human, as a baseball player. So I’m just going to go out and keep playing my game every single day, happy like a kid.”

He’s missed that. Salas’ 2025 campaign was a lost year. Sure, he’ll speak exuberantly about everything he learned while on the sidelines. He says he got plenty of mental reps. But …

“It’s way better doing this,” Salas said. “Definitely happy to be back on the field. And yeah, I’m excited. I’m excited for the season.”

He’s still only 19, mind you. For all the ups and downs Salas has endured, there’s still plenty of time for development ahead of him. As long as he’s on the field.

His goals for the year ahead?

“Just be healthy the whole season,” Salas said. “Then it’s just: Play ball like a kid and have fun, win a lot of games. That’s pretty much all I’m thinking about.”

When Salas sustained the stress reaction in his lower back last April, the Padres were hopeful he’d be able to return sometime around August. Then, they pushed the target back to the offseason -- Arizona Fall League and/or winter ball.

Eventually, the team made the decision it wasn’t worth it. Salas’ injury needed to fully heal. There was no reason to push him. He would return in 2026.

And he returned in a big way on Saturday night.

“Tonight was a good one,” Salas said. “Felt good with the bat, felt good behind the plate. Wish we would’ve gotten the win. But I’m just happy to be out there.”

Here are some other Padres standouts from Saturday’s game:

RHP Lan-Hong Su
Su has been one of the buzziest prospects on the Peoria backfields this spring. The 19-year-old, who, in October, became the Padres’ first international signing out of Taiwan in 10 years, boasts a ridiculously smooth delivery, complete with a Yu Darvish-style kick.

Su pitched a scoreless seventh inning, striking out two, while hitting 97 mph. He currently checks in as the No. 18 Padres prospect on MLB Pipeline’s rankings. As he approaches his first pro season, it’s easy to envision him climbing those rankings -- particularly after a night like this one.

RF Kale Fountain
A fifth-round selection in the 2024 Draft, Fountain became the all-time Nebraska high school home run king as a junior. He’s got plenty of power. Clearly.

Fountain launched a monstrous solo home run that carried nearly the entire way up the left-center-field berm at Sloan Park. He finished 2-for-2 with a walk. Fountain was slowed by injuries in his first pro season last year. But he’s off to a nice start in 2026.

CF Ryan Wideman
Selected in the third round last summer, Wideman impressed the Padres with his tools.. He showed them off on Saturday, robbing Pedro Ramírez of extra bases with a running, leaping catch in the first inning.

A few innings later, Wideman shot a single through the right side. He also came inches from robbing Owen Ayers of a home run.

Ultimately, Wideman’s path to success in pro ball will be limiting chase at the plate (and he punched out three times on Saturday). But there’s a lot to like with his glove and with his wheels -- and with his bat when he stays in the strike zone.