The Padres are poised to give their top prospect, Ethan Salas, a shot ahead of Tuesday night’s game against the Reds.
Salas is only 20 years and 91 days old, and if he gets into the game, he’ll make history as the youngest catcher to appear in a game since Ivan Rodriguez did it on October 2, 1991, at 19 years and 309 days, according to Sarah Langs.
The young catcher has put together a strong season across Double-A and Triple-A, hitting .296/.374/.448 with 31 extra-base hits in 96 games. San Diego signed him when he was 16, and he already had 66 games under his belt in Low-A and High-A as a 17-year-old.
Baseball America’s scouting report paints him as a defense-first player with standout tools behind the plate. The report says, "Salas is a defense-first prospect who stands out for his Gold Glove-caliber defense," and goes on to praise his "ultra-soft hands," his ability to handle balls in the dirt, and the way he controls the running game with quick transfers and accurate throws.
It also notes that his offense is less certain. On the hitting side, the report says, "Mechanically, he stands fairly tall in the lefthanded batter’s box with a slightly open front side and an ear-high handset.
Salas has an under-control operation which includes a slight barrel tip that serves as a timing mechanism and a small stride. It’s a simple and easy swing without a whole lot of moving parts."
Whether Salas is in the lineup Tuesday night remains to be seen.
On the other side, the Reds are hoping for a bounce-back from Nick Lodolo. The left-hander is scheduled to start Tuesday and has been hit hard in his last two outings, allowing 10 runs on 16 hits over 7 1/3 innings.
Lodolo has landed on the injured list twice this season because of a blister, and he recently altered the grip on his breaking ball. Even with that adjustment, he hasn’t quite looked like himself.
“It’s more of a slider - I don’t know if gyro is the right word,” Lodolo told Fox 19's Charlie Goldsmith. “It’s not a huge difference (compared to the old grip).
It’s a bit of a difference. The question is as I keep throwing it, week-to-week-to-week, does the shape stay the same or does it start reverting back to the other one.”
After what was one of the best seasons of his career a year ago, Lodolo has stumbled in 2026. He’s 3-3 with a 5.24 ERA and has struck out just 64 batters in 79 innings, a sharp drop from the punchout totals he has delivered for much of his career.
The Reds need a better version of Lodolo on Tuesday night.
In Other News...
Eugenio Suarez Will Miss Reds Games For A Moment Bigger Than Baseball
Eugenio Surez will be away from the Reds for a couple of days this week, but for a reason that reaches well beyond the box score. The veteran infielder is set to miss Cincinnatis games against the Padres on Tuesday and Wednesday while he takes his naturalization test as he continues his pursuit of U.S. citizenship, a milestone that carries extra meaning for a player who has spent multiple seasons building a strong bond with the city.
Surezs absence comes as Cincinnati keeps leaning on its power bats and the emergence of rookie Sal Stewart, who has already put together a noteworthy season at the plate. Even so, this is the kind of moment that reminds everyone around the club that baseball is only part of the story, and for Surez, the next step is one he has been working toward for a long time. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Just Added Two Question Marks At The Worst Time
The Reds brought Brandon Williamson back from the 6-day injured list and added Juan Brito from Triple-A Louisville as they try to patch together a roster at a time when every inning and every at-bat feels magnified. Williamson had already made six starts before landing on the shelf with a shoulder injury, and Cincinnati is clearly hoping his return gives the rotation a needed lift as the schedule keeps moving.
Britos arrival adds another layer, though his role looks likely to be modest after coming over from the Guardians at the trade deadline. The infielder is expected to see limited playing time, which leaves the Reds with two newcomers who are still trying to find their footing while the club keeps sorting out its depth and health issues. [Read more 🡒]
Eugenio Surezs Absence Forced A Reds Infield Change
Eugenio Surez is away from the Reds for the final two games of the series against the Padres, leaving Cincinnati to juggle its infield a little differently while he steps away to take his U.S. citizenship naturalization test. It is the kind of brief but unavoidable absence that forces a roster to absorb the change quickly, and the club answered by bringing up infielder Juan Brito from Triple-A Louisville to add depth.
Terry Francona and Brito both addressed the move, underscoring that the Reds are treating it as a practical roster adjustment rather than anything more disruptive. Still, whenever a regular is pulled out of the lineup for even a short stretch, it creates a small test of flexibility, and Cincinnati will spend the next couple of games sorting out how best to cover the infield until Surez returns. [Read more 🡒]