Still only 19 years old, Ethan Salas opened the year as the youngest player in the Texas League. He might be the hottest.

The Padres’ catching prospect hit his fifth homer in his last seven games in Double-A San Antonio’s 5-4 loss on Saturday at Tulsa.

Salas played just 10 games due to a back injury last year and hadn’t homered since late 2024. This is his third stint with the Missions as he finished the 2023 season in the Texas League before spending all of 2024 at high Single-A Fort Wayne.

Salas, who served as the designated hitter on Saturday, homered in three straight games last week and now has homers in back-to-back games after going deep on Friday.

Salas is hitting .315/.390/.589 with 14 RBIs after going 1-for-4 on Saturday with a homer and a walk.

First baseman Leandro Cedeno (.991 OPS) went 1-for-1 with a double and three walks.

Right fielder Braedon Karpathios (.569 OPS) went 2-for-4.

Right-hander Ian Koenig (0-3, 4.50 ERA) allowed five unearned runs in 3 ⅔ innings in the start.

San Antonio is 6-20.

 

Saturday’s scoreboard

TRIPLE-A EL PASO (15-17)

Albuquerque 19, Chihuahuas 7: LHP Yuki Matsui (4.97 ERA) struck out a batter and allowed a run on two hits and a walk in two innings in his latest rehab appearances. Matsui has a 14-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 12⅔ innings while rehabbing his groin strain. RHP Sean Boyle (2-3, 8.10 ERA) allowed seven runs in 3⅔ innings in the start. 3B Sung-Mun Song (.694 OPS) went 1-for-4 with a walk. RF Nick Schnell (.884 OPS) went 2-for-5 with his sixth homer and two RBIs. SS Mason McCoy (.931 OPS) went 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.

 

HIGH SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (11-15)

TinCaps 7, South Bend 6: LF Jack Costello (.837 OPS) went 1-for-3 with his fourth homer, two RBIs and a walk. 1B Lamar King Jr. (.708 OPS) went 4-for-5 with a run scored. RF Kavares Tears (.706 OPS), 2B Dylan Grego (.450 OPS) and DH Alex McCoy (1.061 OPS) all had doubles. LHP Jamie Hitt (5.27 ERA) allowed three runs — two earned — in 2⅓ innings in the start. RHP Kleiber Olmedo (2-2, 5.52 ERA) earned the win with two shutout innings in relief.

 

LOW SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (16-10)

Storm 4, Ontario 2: RHP Tyler Schmitt (6.88 ERA) struck out six and allowed two hits and a walk over five shutout innings. C Victor Duarte (1.043 OPS) went 1-for-1 with a double, three RBIs and a walk. CF Ryan Wideman (.907 OPS) went 1-for-5 with a triple and an RBI.

 

Farm system leaders

(Through Friday; Minimum 52 plate appearances, 20 innings)

AVG: .366 – 3B Bradley Frye (A)
OBP: .484 – C Victor Duarte (A)
SLG: .671 – OF Alex McCoy (A+)
HRs: 7 – OF Jase Bowen (AAA)
RBIs: 23 – SS Mason McCoy (AAA)
SBs: 18 – OF Ryan Wideman (A)
Wins: 4 – LHP Javier Chacon (A)
ERA: 3.68 – RHP Bryan Balzer (A)
Ks: 26 – RHP Winyer Chourio (A)
WHIP: 1.14 – Balzer (A)
K/BB: 2.78 – Balzer
Saves: 4 – RHP Clay Edmondson (A+)