ANAHEIM -- Nick Kurtz has generated most of the national attention for the Athletics this season, and rightfully so given his spectacular ongoing rookie campaign. The guy he replaced at first base, however, is also having a breakout year.
Tyler Soderstrom continued putting the finishing touches on what will go down as by far the most productive season yet over his young career in Sunday’s 4-3 loss to the Angels at Angel Stadium. Slugging his 24th home run of the year as part of a 2-for-3 effort with a walk, Soderstrom raised his season OPS to .824 and somewhat quietly leads the A’s in RBIs, pushing that number to 86.
“This is a continuation of how he’s been performing all season,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “The mindset for Tyler is that he was going to come in here and take the next step forward, and he has. It’s a great sign. For him to be the guy on the team that’s driving in runs and hitting in the middle of the order, the progression has been nice to watch.”
The A’s have thrown a lot at Soderstrom this year. Selected as a catcher in the first round of the 2020 Draft, he shifted to playing mostly first base in 2024 due to the emergence of Shea Langeliers as a steady and durable presence behind the plate. Soderstrom entered this season as the club’s Opening Day first baseman. Just as he started to feel comfortable there, Soderstrom ceded the position to Kurtz after the rookie’s callup in late April and moved to left field, a position he’d never previously played at any level of professional baseball.
The positions may have changed, but the production has remained constant for Soderstrom. His .276 batting average is third-highest on the team, trailing only Kurtz (.304) and Jacob Wilson (.315).
Because Soderstrom was drafted out of high school, you almost forget he's only 16 months older than Kurtz. Still only 23 and going through what is essentially his first full season in the big leagues, Soderstrom’s 86 RBIs are the most by an A’s player at age 23 or younger in a season since Eric Chavez (86 in 2000) and Ben Grieve (86 in 1999).
“I’ve had a pretty consistent year,” Soderstrom said. “I’m just looking to keep doing what I’ve been doing. Go out there and finish strong, but not trying to force it. Just go out there, put good at-bats together and keep building on what I’ve been doing. Not trying to do anything crazy. Just finish strong.”
The evolution of Soderstrom as a hitter has been evident throughout the year. As pitchers have adjusted to him, he’s found a solution with adjustments of his own. As of late, he’s been going the other way for a ton of opposite-field hits.
On Sunday, Soderstrom drilled a 1-0 fastball high and away from Angels starter Mitch Farris the other way to left for a Statcast-projected 389-foot solo blast. It was his fourth homer off a lefty this season, an approach he is still working to improve. His second-inning single to center also came off Farris.
“I think I’ve kind of honed in on that [opposite-field] approach,” Soderstrom said. “Especially when a left-hander is out there, I have to focus even more to stay on that side of the field or I’m going to get in trouble with sliders. I’ve really been focusing on just trying to work the other way and reacting in.”
With only 18 games remaining, it’s going to be a race to the finish to see who ends up leading the A’s in RBIs between Soderstrom, Brent Rooker (82) and Kurtz (73). Soderstrom is also in the mix for the team home run lead with Kurtz (29), Langeliers (29) and Rooker (27).
Regardless of how that order ends up, Soderstrom’s excitement lies in the group that is forming with this offense that blew out the Angels the first two nights of this three-game series before mounting a late comeback that fell short Sunday. From the big boppers such as himself, Kurtz, Rooker and Colby Thomas, to dynamic hitters like Wilson and Lawrence Butler, the A’s are emerging as one of the more formidable lineups in baseball.
“I feel like, one through nine, we’re continuing to grow as a whole offensive unit,” Soderstrom said. “Everyone is getting more comfortable around each other and we’re building something. It’s cool to see everyone go out there and have success one through nine.”