Padres sign top international prospect Salas to reported $5.6M deal

The San Diego Padres landed the top-ranked international prospect after the signing period opened on Sunday, signing Venezuelan catcher Ethan Salas to a contract, the team announced.

The deal is worth $5.6 million, sources told MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez.

Salas, 16, is the younger brother of Miami Marlins prospect Jose Salas and comes from a baseball family, with his father, grandfather, and uncle all playing professionally.

He is considered one of the best catching prospects in recent history due to his strong skills behind the plate, athleticism, raw power, and feel for the strike zone.

San Diego used most of its signing pool money on Salas, as it entered the period with $5,825,500 available.