On March 4, 2017, Salazar signed with the Cincinnati Reds as an international free agent[1] and he made his professional debut that year with the Dominican Summer League Reds.[2] He spent the 2018 season split between the rookie-level Arizona League Reds and Greeneville Reds, posting a cumulative 5.83 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 29.1 innings pitched.[3] Salazar spent 2019 with the High-A Dayton Dragons, recording a 6–3 record and 3.81 ERA with 81 strikeouts in 106+1⁄3 innings of work across 35 games (11 starts).[4]
Salazar did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic[5] and spent the majority of the 2021 season with High-A Dayton, making one start for the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts at the end of the year.[3] In 19 starts for Dayton, he pitched to a 4–5 record and 3.49 ERA with 107 strikeouts in 98 innings of work.[6]
Salazar spent the entire 2022 season with Chattanooga, starting 27 games and registering a 6–10 record and 5.16 ERA with 111 strikeouts in 125+2⁄3 innings pitched.[3] He was converted from a starter to a relief pitcher for the 2023 season,[7] which he began with Double-A Chattanooga before being promoted to the Triple-A Louisville Bats after posting a minuscule 0.68 ERA in nine appearances.[8] In three games with Louisville, Salazar allowed no runs with one walk and three strikeouts in 4+1⁄3 innings pitched.[9]
On May 24, 2023, Salazar was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time[10][11] and made his debut with one inning of work against the St. Louis Cardinals, allowing one run on two hits and a walk while striking out one.[12] His first MLB strikeout was of Nolan Gorman.[12] In eight appearances for the Reds, he had a 8.03 ERA with five strikeouts in 12+1⁄3 innings pitched.[13] On August 11, he was designated for assignment and removed from the 40-man roster.[14] After finishing the season with Louisville, he became a free agent on November 6.[15]
On November 16, 2023, Salazar signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers[16] and was assigned to the Triple–A Oklahoma City Baseball Club to start the season.[17] The Dodgers selected his contract to the major league roster on April 16, 2024,[18] however he was optioned back to the minors the following day without appearing in a game.[19] He rejoined the majors and pitched two innings in a game on May 15, giving up three hits and two walks but no earned runs.[20] He also made seven starts for Oklahoma City, with a 5.61 ERA.[3] The Dodgers designated him for assignment on May 20.[1]
On May 23, 2024, Salazar was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners.[21] In four games for the Triple–A Tacoma Rainiers, he compiled a 5.40 ERA with one strikeout across 3+1⁄3 innings. On June 9, Salazar was designated for assignment by Seattle.[22]
