César Salazar Bio
César Salazar (born March 15, 1996) is a Mexican professional baseball catcher who has played for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB) since making his debut in 2023. Born in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, Salazar moved to Tucson, Arizona, at age 16 and developed his game in the American minor league system before earning his spot on an MLB roster. He has contributed both defensively behind the plate and at the plate during his time with the Astros organization.
Early Life and Background
César Salazar spent his formative years in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, before relocating to Tucson, Arizona, at age 16. He attended Sahuaro High School in Tucson, where he excelled in multiple sports, playing soccer and tennis in addition to baseball during his youth. His dedication to baseball began to truly shine during his high school career.
As a senior at Sahuaro High School in 2015, Salazar delivered an outstanding performance that earned him the prestigious Hal Eustice Award as the baseball player of the year. He hit .612 in 62 at-bats with 16 runs batted in (RBI) and 4 home runs, demonstrating the offensive prowess that would characterize his early career. His success at the high school level paved the way for his advancement to collegiate baseball.
Path to Professional Baseball
Following his standout high school career, Salazar continued his baseball development at the University of Arizona, where he played for the Wildcats. His collegiate career included summer stints in prestigious wooden-bat leagues, first with the La Crosse Loggers of the Northwoods League and then with the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League in 2017. These summer leagues, known for developing professional-level talent, helped sharpen Salazar’s skills against high-caliber competition.
His performance at the University of Arizona and during summer league play caught the attention of MLB scouts. The Houston Astros selected Salazar in the seventh round, with the 222nd overall pick, in the 2018 MLB Draft. This selection marked the beginning of his professional baseball journey within one of MLB’s premier organizations.
César Salazar Career
Minor League Development (2018–2022)
The Houston Astros selected Salazar in the seventh round, 222nd overall, of the 2018 MLB Draft. He spent his first professional season playing 36 games combined between the Low-A Tri-City ValleyCats and Single-A Quad Cities River Bandits, beginning his climb through the minor league system. The following year in 2019, he played exclusively with Quad Cities and continued to develop, hitting .262 with 3 home runs, 39 RBI, and 5 stolen bases across 71 games.
The 2020 season presented an unexpected challenge when the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of the entire minor league season, preventing Salazar from playing. He returned in 2021 with renewed determination, splitting time between the High-A Asheville Tourists and Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks while also making one appearance for Triple-A Sugar Land Skeeters. In 56 total games that season, he hit a combined .251 with 11 home runs, 32 RBI, and 4 stolen bases.
Salazar took a significant step forward in 2022, spending the majority of the season with Corpus Christi before finishing with Sugar Land, who had rebranded as the Space Cowboys. In 102 games between both affiliates, he posted impressive numbers with a .265 batting average, 16 home runs, 60 RBI, and 8 stolen bases. This breakout season positioned him for his opportunity with the major league club.
Houston Astros Breakthrough (2023–present)
On March 28, 2023, the Astros announced that Salazar had made the Opening Day roster, a significant milestone in his career. His contract was selected to the 40-man roster on March 30. On April 2, Salazar made his major league debut, appearing as a pinch hitter and drawing a base on balls in his lone plate appearance that game. He recorded his first major league hit on April 16, singling off Josh Sborz in the ninth inning against the Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park.
Salazar saw limited action during his rookie season, appearing in only 10 games for Houston while going 2-for-14 with a walk. The Astros optioned him to Triple-A Sugar Land on June 5 after the team promoted Grae Kessinger. He began the 2024 season with Triple-A Sugar Land and received another opportunity with Houston later in the year. On June 19, 2024, Salazar delivered his first career multi-hit game in the majors, driving in two runs with two hits to help key a 4-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Overall in 2024, he played 12 games for the Astros, batting .320 with two doubles, five runs scored, and eight RBI in 32 plate appearances.
Salazar returned to Triple-A Sugar Land to begin the 2025 season. He appeared in 11 games for Houston during the regular season, going 3-for-13 with one RBI and two walks. On March 25, 2026, the Astros designated him for assignment after he failed to make the Opening Day roster. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys on March 27. The Astros selected his contract on May 4, adding him back to their active roster. In nine appearances during this stint, he went 1-for-18 with one RBI and three walks before being designated for assignment again on June 4 and sent outright to Sugar Land on June 6.
Defensive Role and Strengths
Salazar has built his professional value primarily as a defensive catcher, handling pitching staffs at each minor league level before earning his opportunity with Houston. His receiving skills and game-calling ability have been noted throughout his time in the Astros organization. While his offensive contributions have been modest at the major league level, his defensive work behind the plate has been the foundation of his professional career.
César Salazar Career Highlights
Salazar has appeared in parts of three MLB seasons with the Houston Astros from 2023 through 2026, accumulating meaningful major league experience despite limited playing time. His minor league career demonstrated consistent offensive production, particularly during the 2022 season when he combined for 16 home runs and 60 RBI between Double-A and Triple-A affiliates. He earned recognition as a top high school player in Tucson before embarking on his professional journey.
MLB Career Summary
Through May 29, 2026, Salazar has appeared in 32 career MLB games spanning three seasons with Houston, posting a .189 batting average with no home runs and 10 RBI. He has logged 10 games as a catcher during his major league tenure. His most productive major league stretch came in 2024 when he hit .320 in limited action.
Minor League Achievements
His strongest minor league campaign came in 2022 with Corpus Christi and Sugar Land, where he posted a combined .265 batting average with 16 home runs and 60 RBI in 102 games. Prior to that, he hit .262 in 2019 at Single-A Quad Cities and .251 in 2021 split between High-A and Double-A affiliates. He earned the Hal Eustice Award as Tucson’s baseball player of the year in 2015.
| Level | Games | Batting Average | Home Runs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB (2023-2026) | 32 | .189 | 0 | 10 |
| Triple-A (2021-2026) | Multiple seasons | Varies | Multiple | Multiple |
| Double-A (2021-2022) | Multiple seasons | .265 (2022) | 16 (2022) | 60 (2022) |
Family and Personal Life
Background
Salazar was born in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, and relocated to Tucson, Arizona, at age 16. He attended Sahuaro High School in Tucson before playing collegiately at the University of Arizona. He has maintained his residence in Tucson throughout his professional career, returning to Arizona during the offseason and while assigned to minor league affiliates in the state.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season saw Salazar continue his role as a depth catcher within the Houston Astros organization. He spent the beginning of the season with Triple-A Sugar Land before receiving a mid-season call-up to the major league club. During his time with Houston in 2025, he appeared in 11 games and went 3-for-13 at the plate with one RBI and two walks.
His primary value came defensively as a catcher who could provide rest for the starting receivers while offering experience in game management. The Astros utilized him in a backup capacity, with his opportunity to contribute at the plate coming in limited situations. The season reflected his ongoing adjustment to major league pitching while maintaining his defensive responsibilities.