Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

After one year in the George Mason bullpen, Salina – a native of Rochester, N.Y. – moved closer to home with a transfer within the Atlantic 10 to St. Bonaventure ahead of the 2024 season. He pitched out of the Bonnies rotation in his first spring and became the team’s No. 1 starter as a junior. His time atop the depth chart didn’t last long; he struck out 26 batters over 17 1/3 innings in his first four starts but suffered an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery in April 2025. The Padres selected him in the fourth round and signed him for slot value at $571,500.

The 6-foot-1 righty was showing steady gains with his fastball velocity during his days as a collegian and was sitting 94-96 with his heater as a junior, even touching as high as 102 mph. He also got excellent extension that made the fastball play better than the heat alone and generate a healthy amount of whiffs. His mid-80s slider shows short, hard break and looks like an absolute weapon against fellow righties. There was some feel for an upper-80s changeup, but he’ll need a better option against lefties in the pros.

Salina pitches exclusively out of the stretch and used a fair amount of effort late in his delivery to squeeze that velocity. That said, he was showing a little better control before TJ, and the Padres are hopeful that a year of recovery and rehab may only make him stronger, as can happen for pitchers after the elbow procedure. Salina should be an interesting arm with upside when he debuts in the San Diego system in 2026.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

After starring in high school outside of Rochester, N.Y., Salina headed south to George Mason University for college ball. After a freshman year pitching sparingly out of the Patriots' bullpen, he moved closer to home, staying in the Atlantic 10 Conference to attend St. Bonaventure. He spent his sophomore year in the rotation and was off to a solid start as the Bonnies’ No. 1 starter this year when an elbow injury shelved him after four starts, and he had Tommy John surgery in April. The Padres took him in the fourth round and signed him for slot at $571,500.

A 6-foot-1 right-hander, Salina has electric stuff when he’s healthy. He’s gained some ticks of velocity in his fastball from earlier in his college career and was averaging close to 95 mph with it, while touching 98 routinely and topping out at 102. The pitch misses bats thanks to excellent extension. So does his mid-80s slider, which is short and hard with two-plane break. He doesn’t go to his changeup often, but he has feel for the upper-80s cambio.

While he’s strong and compact, Salina is a sneaky good athlete and does a decent job of repeating his simple, from-the-stretch delivery. He found the zone a lot in his first four starts, and the Padres believe he could come back even stronger after taking the year off to rehab before his pro debut at some point in the first half of 2026.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

After starring in high school outside of Rochester, N.Y., Salina headed south to George Mason University for college ball. After a freshman year pitching sparingly out of the Patriots' bullpen, he moved closer to home, staying in the Atlantic 10 Conference to attend St. Bonaventure. He spent his sophomore year in the rotation and was off to a solid start as the Bonnies’ No. 1 starter this year when an elbow injury shelved him after four starts; he had Tommy John surgery in April.

A 6-foot-1 right-hander, Salina has electric stuff when he’s healthy. He’s gained some ticks of velocity in his fastball from earlier in his college career and was averaging close to 95 mph with it, while touching 98 routinely and topping out at 102. The pitch misses bats thanks to excellent extension. So does his mid-80s slider, which is short and hard with two-plane break. He doesn’t go to his changeup often, but he has feel for the upper-80s cambio.

While he’s strong and compact, Salina is a sneaky good athlete and does a decent job of repeating his simple, from-the-stretch delivery. He found the zone a lot in his first four starts and now teams will have to decide if they want to take him and let him rehab in their system.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/05/2026	RHP Michael Salina assigned to San Diego Padres Prospects.
	08/04/2025	ACL Padres activated RHP Michael Salina.
	07/24/2025	San Diego Padres signed RHP Michael Salina.
	07/24/2025	RHP Michael Salina assigned to ACL Padres.
	06/03/2025	RHP Michael Salina assigned to College Workout.
	06/26/2024	Brewster Whitecaps released RHP Michael Salina.
	04/02/2024	RHP Michael Salina assigned to Brewster Whitecaps.