NO. 1 PICK TYLER SODERSTROM AMONG A’S NON-ROSTER INVITEES

>> The Oakland A’s aren’t shy about inviting their No. 1 draft picks to spring training, and 19-year-old catcher Tyler Soderstrom is no exception.

The A’s announced that Soderstrom, their No. 3 prospect behind lefthanded pitcher A.J. Puk and 18-year-old prospect Robert Puason, will get a non-roster invite to spring training this year. Logan Davidson, the A’s 2019 firstround pick, received a nonroster invite last year. BASEBALL GATHERS BEHIND HOME PLATE TO HONOR HAMMERIN’ HANK >> Brian Snitker choked back tears as he remembered Hank Aaron’s affection for those who didn’t possess his unparalleled talent on the baseball field.

During his post-playing career running the Atlanta Braves farm system, the Hammer had a penchant for looking beyond the can’t-miss prospects.

“He always wanted to move a player up, and he preferred that it wasn’t the so-called bonus babies,” said Snitker, who has managed the Braves since 2016 and got his start in the dugout thanks to Aaron. “He wanted to get that grinder guy, the guy who was overachieving.”

Snitker was among those who spoke at a memorial service honoring Aaron, who died last week from natural causes at the age of 86. AP SOURCES: PHILLIES, REALMUTO AGREE ON $115.5 MILLION DEAL >> The Philadelphia Phillies and twotime All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto agreed on a $115.5 million, five-year contract, two people familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.

Realmuto’s average annual salary of $23.1 million will become the highest for a catcher, topping the $23 million Joe Mauer averaged in a $184 million, eight-year deal with the Minnesota Twins that covered 2011-18.