Ethan Salas triples for first MLB hit

Merrill is hitting second for the first time since late July as San Diego attempts to stave off elimination and begin climbing out of an 0-2 deficit as the best-of-five series shifts to Petco Park. It’ll be Ethan Salas handling the catching duties for the third time in five postseason contests with Gavin Sheets getting the nod at DH. Here’s the full lineup: Fernando Tatis Jr. (RF), Merrill (CF), Manny Machado (3B), Ty France (1B), Salas (C), Sheets (DH), Xander Bogaerts (SS), Dustin Harris (LF) and Jake Cronenworth (2B).

There’s nothing wrong with Salas, Padres’ skipper Craig Stammen simply had a change of heart and wanted to use Sheets instead. Sheets will step right into Salas’ spot in the lineup, batting sixth and serving as the club’s designated hitter.

The Padres are rolling with the same starting nine that they did in Game 1, the only change is that Salas and Xander Bogaerts have swapped lineup spots and Luis Campusano will do the catching with Salas serving as the DH. Here’s how they’ll line up against Brewers’ right-hander Logan Henderson on Sunday: Fernando Tatis Jr. (RF), Dustin Harris (LF), Manny Machado (3B), Ty France (1B), Jackson Merrill (CF), Salas (DH), Xander Bogaerts (SS), Luis Campusano (C) and Jake Cronenworth (2B).

Salas earns his second consecutive nod behind the plate as the Padres kick off a best-of-five matchup against a powerhouse Brewers squad. The 20-year-old prodigy, who is a revelation from a defensive standpoint, has gone 1-for-2 with an RBI in the postseason. Here’s the full lineup: Fernando Tatis Jr. (RF), Dustin Harris (LF), Manny Machado (3B), Ty France (1B), Jackson Merrill (CF), Xander Bogaerts (SS), Salas (C), Luis Campusano (DH) and Jake Cronenworth (2B).

Salas will be the youngest player in baseball history to catch a postseason game when he makes his playoff debut at just 20 years old in this one. The Padres have a chance to punch their ticket to the NLDS after scoring eight runs during a Game 1 blowout victory on Tuesday night at Petco Park. Here’s the full lineup: Fernando Tatis Jr. (RF), Dustin Harris (LF), Manny Machado (3B), Ty France (1B), Jackson Merrill (CF), Xander Bogaerts (SS), Salas (C), Austin Hays (DH) and Jake Cronenworth (2B).

Batting for Freddy Fermin, Salas got to face a drawn-in infield because a wild pitch advanced Cronenworth to third, and he was able to connect on a grounder up the middle that would have won the game even if the second baseman had gotten to it. The Padres have won four straight games and are five up on the D-backs with seven to play.

Batting from the ninth spot in the order, Salas had a solo homer in the second and a two-run homer in the fifth. At 20 years and 107 days, he’s the youngest players to have a two-homer game since Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2019. He’s the youngest catcher to do so since at least 1900, overtaking Butch Wynegar in 1976 (20 years, 192 days). Salas’s only previous hit in eight major league games was a triple. With his three hits having counted for 11 total bases, he’s sporting an interesting .143/.143/.524 line to date.

Freddy Fermin is sitting and Luis Campusano is DHing with Salas starting behind the dish. Salas is 0-for-14 in three starts and three appearances off the bench since being called up Sept. 1.

Salas, who is 20 years old, is now officially the youngest player in MLB and, when the game begins today, will be the youngest player to appear at catcher in a game since Iván Rodríguez did back in October of 1991. There’s a pathway to playing time here for Salas if he can adapt quickly to MLB pitching.

This move was reported last night and is now official. Salas hit .296/.374/.448 with 10 homers and 17 steals between Double- and Triple-A this year. That came with an impressive 5.4 percent swinging strike rate, and, in 24 games at Triple-A, he posted a 95 percent zone contact rate and 42 percent hard-hit rate. It’s incredibly impressive for a hitter at his age to control the strike zone and have the feel for contact that he does. MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell reports that, while there is no set role for Salas right now, he is “expected to catch, DH and serve as a bench bat.” That makes it sound like the left-handed-hitting Salas could start a few games a week with the chance to earn more playing time if he produces.