Issmael Salas

Francisco Ismael Salas

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 200 lb.
• High School Marian Catholic High School (San Diego)

• Born July 25, 1982 in Tijuana, Baja California MEX

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Infielder Issmael Salas was born in Mexico but went to high school across the border in San Diego, CA. He was given the name Ismael at birth but played using a modified spelling, Issmael. He was signed by the Chicago Cubs as an undrafted free agent before the 2001 season and played in their system until 2008, before continuing his career in the Mexican League and the Mexican Pacific League. He had never lost the connection to his native country, playing for the Mexican junior national team in the 2000 World Junior Championship. He was still active as of the 2022-23 winter league season.

Salas only reached up to AA in the Cubs system, playing the 2007 season with the Tennessee Smokies of the Southern League. Before that he was mainly in A-ball, as a middling hitter with limited power, but who had the defensive prowess to play at all three bases although he only would play shortstop in emergencies. His best year in the Cubs system came in 2005 with the Daytona Cubs of the Florida State League, for whom he hit .264/.314/.465 in 78 games, with 17 doubles and 10 homers. It was the first time he reached double figures in homers in his career, and he would not do do again until 2011, when he was playing in Mexico. He was limited to just 32 games with Daytona in 2006 but hit .313 and in 2007 spent a full season in AA, hitting .247/.309/.372 with 8 homers and 53 RBIs. However, he was released by the Cubs after hitting .227 in 23 games for Tennessee in 2008 and signed with the Acereros de Monclova in the Mexican League, where he batted .366 in 29 games. He would not return to the U.S.-based minors after that,

In Mexico, he had stints with the Saraperos de Saltillo, Rojos del Aguila de Veracruz and Pericos de Puebla in addition to Monclova. He had some excellent hitting years, including batting .333 with 19 homers and 61 RBIs in 83 games for Saltillo in 2012, and .315 with 9 homers and 57 RBIs for Veracruz in 2015. He was a fixture in winter ball, first playing for the Algodoneros de Guasave in 2005-06. In 2011-12, he hit .288 with 13 homers and 34 RBIs in 63 games for the Aguilas de Mexicali. His first appearance in the Caribbean Series came in 2015, with the Tomateros de Culiacan, and he also played for them in the 2018 Caribbean Series. At age 39 in 2022, he was still a productive hitter for the Mariachis de Guadalajara of La Liga, hitting .307 with 10 homers and 46 RBIs in 58 games.