Ethan Salas Becomes Youngest Catcher in MLB History to Appear in Postseason Game

San Diego, CA, September 30, 2026 —

San Diego Padres catcher Ethan Salas achieved a historic milestone on Saturday, becoming the youngest player in Major League Baseball history to catch in a postseason game. Salas, 20 years old, earned the start behind the plate for the Padres against the Chicago Cubs in Game 2 of their Wild Card Series, which took place at Petco Park.

The young catcher’s appearance marks a significant moment in his burgeoning career and in baseball record books. By taking his position for the Padres in this critical playoff matchup, Salas surpassed previous records for the youngest catcher to participate in the postseason. The game was part of the series between the San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs, a key contest in the Major League Baseball playoffs.

Salas joined the Padres organization and has progressed rapidly through their system. His debut in a postseason game at such a young age highlights his development and the organization’s confidence in his abilities during a high-stakes environment. The event occurred at the Padres’ home stadium, Petco Park, in front of their home crowd. The specific date of the game, beyond it being Game 2 of the Wild Card Series, was not provided in the summary.

Story summarized from the original created by Greg Beacham | The Associated Press on www.nbcsandiego.com, see more information here.

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