C/IF Tyler Soderstrom, Turlock HS [CA]
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DoB: 11/24/2001. B/T: L/R
Commitment: UCLA
Hardcore 90's Giants fans might recognize that last name if they squint, as Steve Soderstrom went sixth overall out of Fresno State in 1993 before making three starts for the 1996 team (2-0, 5.27 ERA) and flaming out. His son Tyler won't match his draft position, but he has a great chance to top his career production as the best hitting high school catcher in the country and arguably the top high school hitter west of the Mississippi. He's clearly a bat-first prospect, but if he can stick behind the plate, he could be a steal later in the first round.
Though he's a catcher, Soderstrom stands out for his bat. He shows great feel for the barrel that helped him make very consistent, very hard contact against some of the top high school pitchers in the country over the summer, and he can projects for potentially plus raw power. Soderstrom derives that power from strong arms and legs, and he can really tap it when he gets his arms extended. That offensive upside rivals just about any high school hitter outside of the top tier (Zac Veen/Austin Hendrick), and it comes with the chance to stick behind the plate. Soderstrom is very much a work in progress defensively and far from a lock to catch at the big league level, but with plenty of arm strength and a good work ethic, there is a chance. If scouts were sure he could stick back there, he would be off the board by the halfway point of the first round.
There is significant risk here. High school catchers are an exceptionally risky demographic, with more busts than successes in recent memory. Now, Soderstrom does have a bit of a leg up on a lot of those guys because he might not have to play first base if he can't catch, as he has enough arm strength and athleticism to make a corner outfield spot or even third base potentially work. If Soderstrom were strictly a left fielder or first baseman, his bat could still sneak him into the back of the first round on its own, and adding in the possibility of third base or right field pushes him more firmly into the first round. Now throw in the possibility that he can catch, and you have yourself someone who could go in the top twenty picks if a team really believes in the glove. I would think of him that way rather than as "a poor defensive catcher who will probably get bumped." Then, you can focus on the upside in the bat.
On its own, there is 25-30 home run potential in the bat as well as the ability to post high on-base percentages. He's not quite there yet, as he's still learning how to balance his approach between power and average, but that's expected for a high school senior. It will take some refinement, but the upside is certainly there and he's closer to it than a lot of other hitters. Defensively, where he fits in the draft all depends on what teams think of his defense, and that could mean anywhere from the middle to the back of the first round. It will also be interesting to see how teams balance him versus Arizona's Austin Wells, who has a similar bat-first profile as a catcher. Soderstrom, on one hand, is younger and conceptually has more time to refine his glove, but Wells' bat is much more proven (he's a career .357/.476/.560 hitter at Arizona) with the same defensive profile. Personally, I prefer Wells, but I could understand an argument for Soderstrom. Either way, it's a first round profile.
Batting practice
Summer game footage
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