Tyler Soderstrom Smashes Two Home Runs On Thursday
Athletics first baseman Tyler Soderstrom got his 2025 regular season off to a great start by going 2-for-3 with a pair of solo home runs on Thursday night. Unfortunately for the A's, the rest of the lineup combined to go a brutal 1-for-26 in their 4-2 loss in Seattle. Soderstrom went yard in the fifth off Logan Gilbert to give his team the 1-0 lead and hit another home run off Trent Thornton in the eighth to put them up 2-1. The bullpen couldn't hold the lead, though, so the team fell to 0-1. Soderstrom is starting his first full season in the MLB after hitting .233 with nine home runs and a .322 wOBA in 61 games last season. He's off to a fast start and will look to continue his success through the weekend in Seattle. He got some preseason hype as a potential breakout this season, and he definitely lived up to that hype in game No. 1.
Tyler Soderstrom Could See Opportunities Behind The Plate
Athletics first baseman Tyler Soderstrom could still be in the mix to serve as the team's backup catcher. Soderstrom was drafted as a catcher with the 26th pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. However, the 23-year-old has begun to transition to first base. Last summer, Soderstrom made just one start behind the dish in the majors last season compared to the 59 he made at first base. However, he started 21 games behind the plate in the minor leagues compared to eight at first base. While Shea Langeliers is expected to be the team's primary backstop, Soderstrom could eventually earn the No. 2 role while still operating as their top first baseman. His defensive flexibility would allow the Athletics to have another player on their roster as he would be available to play two positions. Despite playing in only 60 MLB games last season, Soderstrom flashed high power upside as he went deep nine times and held a .429 SLG. He is worth a look as a late-round flier in deeper formats as he could gain catcher eligibility, which would boost his fantasy value.
Tyler Soderstrom Activated From 10-Day Injured List
Oakland Athletics first baseman/catcher Tyler Soderstrom (wrist) was activated off the 10-day injured list on Saturday afternoon. In a corresponding move, the Athletics optioned Armando Alvarez. The 22-year-old was kept out of MLB action for just over two months due to a bone bruise on his left wrist. Before the injury, Soderstrom flashed high-upside power at times but struggled to find consistency as he posted a mere .219/.307/.404 line with seven round-trippers across 49 games. Under the hood, he boasted a 14.7% barrel rate and a 52.9% hard-hit rate, which suggests his power production was not a fluke. Fantasy managers looking for a second catcher with an upside for power should consider adding the former first-round pick, as he should see consistent playing time down the stretch.
Oakland Athletics first baseman Tyler Soderstrom (wrist) played in his first minor-league rehab game on Thursday with Triple-A Las Vegas as the designated hitter and went 1-for-3 with a home run, two RBI, a run scored and a strikeout. Soderstrom's homer was a two-run shot and came on his final plate appearance of the contest in the sixth inning. Expect the A's to give him at least a few more rehab games and a chance to play first base with Vegas before they activate him from the injured list to close out the 2024 season in the big leagues in the last few weeks of the year. The 22-year-old hasn't played with the A's since July 9 due to a wrist injury, but the left-handed slugger should see regular playing time once he's back in Oakland. Soderstrom has improved slightly from his 45-game debut in 2023, batting .219 (32-for-146) this year with seven home runs and 20 RBI in 49 games played.
Tyler Soderstrom To Take Batting Practice On Tuesday
Oakland Athletics first baseman Tyler Soderstrom (wrist), who is on the 10-day injured list with a stress reaction in his left wrist, will take batting practice on Tuesday at the Oakland Coliseum. If that goes well, Soderstrom is expected to join Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday to start a minor-league rehab assignment. Since he hasn't played in a major-league game since July 9, manager Mark Kotsay said Soderstrom will require several rehab games, which could make it tough for him to return before the end of the 2024 season. "He's missed quite a bit of time," Kotsay said. "He'll need some at-bats. We'd like to, hopefully, get him back here at some point. But I don't want to say that's set in stone. Wrist injuries and hand injuries always take time. I'll leave it as, when he gets started, we'll get an accurate assessment of what he needs."
Tyler Soderstrom Could Hit Off Pitching Machine This Weekend
Oakland Athletics first baseman Tyler Soderstrom (wrist) could begin hitting foam balls off a pitching machine this weekend according to Oakland manager Mark Kotsay. Soderstrom was hitting off a tee earlier this week so his progression to being able to hit off a pitching machine, even if it is just foam balls, marks a positive sign for the 22-year-old. The lefty has been out of action since July 9th with a stress reaction in his left wrist. As of now he has no official timetable to return to action. With the A's out of playoff contention it may also be in Oakland's best interest to take their time with Soderstrom. Fantasy managers in need of help at first base may want to consider Seth Brown, who is hitting for an .839 OPS in the second half of the season and would be a sneaky add for the fantasy playoffs.
Oakland Athletics first baseman Tyler Soderstrom (wrist), whose placement on the 10-day injured list was retroactive to July 10, has advanced to a hitting progression as he recovers from a stress reaction in his left wrist. Soderstrom has been hitting off a tee and is expected to begin a soft-toss hitting program near the end of this week. He is likely to return to the A's at some point during September. Although his numbers don't look great in his second year in the big leagues, Soderstrom has taken a small step forward from his rookie year and is currently slashing .219/.307/.404 with a .711 OPS, seven home runs, 20 RBI and 12 runs scored in his 49 games played in 2024. The 22-year-old left-handed slugger should play regularly down the stretch at either first base or designated hitter to close out the year for the lowly A's.
Oakland Athletics first baseman Tyler Soderstrom (wrist) underwent recent testing to see the extent of his injury. The results showed the 22-year-old suffered a stress reaction but not a fracture. Soderstrom was placed on the 10-day injured list on July 11 and appears to have avoided a serious injury. Oakland skipper Mark Kotsay expressed that this was the best news the team could have hoped for. This positive news suggests that the former first-round selection could only be sidelined for a minimum stint on the injured list. Prior to the injury, Soderstrom was showcasing his power potential with seven long balls and 20 RBI across 49 games.
The Oakland Athletics placed first baseman Tyler Soderstrom (wrist) on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with a left-wrist bone bruise and recalled outfielder Seth Brown from Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move. Brown earns his way back to the big leagues after hitting .403 with a 1.152 OPS, seven home runs, three doubles and 24 RBI in 16 games with Vegas. He'll make the start at first base on Thursday and will hit sixth against Boston Red Sox right-hander Tanner Houck and should play regularly for the A's against right-handed pitching, at least until Soderstrom is able to return sometime after next week's All-Star break. In his second big-league season in 2024, Soderstrom has slashed just .219/.307/.404 with a .711 OPS, seven home runs, 20 RBI and 12 runs scored in 49 games. He has four hits in 22 at-bats with a double and three K's in six games in July, so perhaps some time off will do him well.
Oakland Athletics catcher Tyler Soderstrom was sent down to Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday. Soderstrom will get a little more seasoning in the minors while Shea Langeliers handles primary catcher duties on the big league squad. The move makes sense, as Soderstrom was slashing just .115/.172/.154 in 29 plate appearances this spring. Baseball America's number 73 prospect is still just 22 years old and has put up good numbers in the minors before, so dynasty owners shouldn't be too worried about him yet.