César Salazar #18

Moved to Tucson, Ariz., from Hermosillo, Mexico, when he was 15 years old...he did so at the advice of his mentor and travel ball coach, Luis Valenzuela, to increase his chance of receiving a college baseball scholarship…Cesar moved in with a host family in Tucson and credits watching a lot of TV to help learn the English language, as well as American culture… switched his primary position to catcher after playing shortstop for most of his youth as Valenzuela convinced him it would enhance his chances of netting a scholarship and reaching the Majors...Went undrafted out of Sahuaro H.S. (Tucson, Ariz.)... was eligible for just 18 games throughout his high school career due to Arizona Interscholastic Association transfer restrictions...batted .613 with four home runs and 16 RBI in those 18 games, all coming his senior year...Played collegiately at the University of Arizona, where he hit .339 (65x189) with 25 runs, 11 doubles, one triple, four home runs, 42 RBI and a .903 OPS as a junior in 2018...named to the First-Team All-Pac 12 team that season...recorded a caught stealing in 16- of-28 stolen base attempts (57.1%)...Selected by Houston in the seventh round of the June 2018 Draft...signed by Astros scout Aaron Tassano...Made the first start of his MLB career on April 5 vs. DET, which coincided with the birthday of his father, César Salazar Sr., who had traveled from his home in Hermosillo to be in attendance...César became the sixth native of Hermosillo to reach the Majors, joining RHP Francisco Barrios, RHP Elmer Dessens, IF Erubiel Durazo, OF Luis García and IF Isaac Paredes...Is one of 12 Mexican-born players to appear in the Majors with the Astros and was the first since José Urquidy debuted in 2019...Has appeared with Naranjeros de Hermosillo of the Mexican Pacific Winter League in each of the past six offseasons...helped lead Hermosillo to the 2023-24 MPWL Championship, the club's first title since the 2009-10 offseason...César batted .257 (19x74) with seven RBI in 25 games with Hermosillo during the 2023-24 season...Received his second-career invitation to Major League Spring Training camp in 2024...is signed to a one-year contract for the 2024 season.

2023

Made his first career Opening Day roster as the club's third catcher, along with Martín Maldonado and Yainer Diaz...Batted .111 (2x18) with a walk and a run scored in 13 games across two stints with the Astros...Made his Major League debut as a pinch-hitter on April 2 vs. Chicago (AL)...Drew a walk and came around to score...Recorded the first hit of his Major League career as a pinch-hitter on April 16 vs. TEX...Followed that with a pinch-hit single on April 17 vs. TEX...According to Elias, he is the first Astro to record their first two Major League hits as a pinch-hitter since IF Matt Duffy also did so on Sept. 19 and Sept. 23 of 2015...Was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on June 4...Was recalled to the Major League roster on June 9 and then optioned back to Triple-A Sugar Land on June 21...Batted .191 (33x173) with two home runs, 16 RBI and eight doubles in 57 games with Triple-A Sugar Land...Was a member of the Taxi Squad throughout the club's postseason run. 

2022

During the 2022 season, he split time between Double A Corpus Christi (85g) and Triple A Sugar Land (17g)...notched a .265 batting average (97x366) with 58 runs, 18 doubles, 16 home runs, 60 RBI, eight stolen bases and a .783 OPS (.338 OBP/.445 SLG).

2021

In 2021, he played in 56 games between High A Asheville, Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land...he batted .251 (48x191) with 11 home runs, 32 RBI, eight walks with an .830 OPS.

2020

Did not appear in a game in 2020 due to the pandemic-shortened season.

2019

Spent the entire 2019 season in Low A Quad Cities, batted .262 (65x248) with 16 doubles, and 39 RBI in 71 games...was named a Midseason All-Star in the Midwest League.