Father-son duo could make history in draft
Turlock High product Soderstrom expected to be in the mix when the Giants are on the clock
Twenty-seven years after the Giants selected Turlock native Steve Soderstrom with the sixth overall pick in the MLB draft, another Turlock product is expected to be in the mix when the team is on the clock in today’s first round.
Soderstrom, who appeared in three games for the Giants during the 1996 season, can vouch for the 18-year-old catching prospect’s talents.
It’s his son, Tyler. Only nine father-son duos have been taken in the first round of the MLB draft and none were chosen by the same team. With the 13th overall pick in this year’s draft, the Giants and the Soderstrom family can make history.
“It would be super special,” Tyler said. “It’s been my dream to play in the major leagues since I found out my dad played professional baseball. My dad is my mentor.”
Since Farhan Zaidi was hired as president of baseball operations in November, 2018, the Giants have prioritized positional versatility and publicly stated their desire to acquire talent with local connections. The team’s first-round selection in 2019 was Hunter Bishop, a Serra High (San Mateo) and Arizona State product who spent draft night detailing memories of watching Barry Bonds launch home runs into McCovey Cove.
“If we happened to get drafted by the same team in the first round, that would even be a topper,” Steve said. “We talk about it and it’s exciting to talk about, but we do try to keep it in perspective because the draft hasn’t happened yet.”
The Giants, like all 29 other club, face challenging realities ahead of the 2020 amateur draft.
The coronavirus pandemic brought a screeching halt to college and high school seasons across the country, leaving scouting departments with fewer opportunities to evaluate game action and get in-person looks at rising talent. Shelter-in-place restrictions have forced front offices to conduct meetings over Zoom and instead of meeting players in person, conversations are now taking place virtually.
The pandemic was equally challenging for draft-eligible players such as Soderstrom, who was named California’s Gatorade Player of the Year despite playing just five official games this season.
“Not getting to play with my buddies was the hardest part of the season getting canceled,” Soderstrom said. “We’re all close and had a really good team and our coach put together an awesome schedule. It was tough not getting to play it out.”
Steve Soderstrom was drafted as a pitcher, but Tyler is expected to be selected in the first round today thanks to his skills in the batter’s box. Solid power from the left side and impressive bat speed have turned Tyler into an intriguing option for many clubs drafting in the 10-25 range, including the Giants who used their 2018 firstround pick on a catcher, Joey Bart.
It shouldn’t come as a shock to Giants fans if the franchise uses this year’s first-round pick on a catching prospect, particularly because Soderstrom has the potential to complement Bart well. The players hit from opposite sides of the plate and Soderstrom appears to have the athleticism and conviction to play other positions on the diamond as well.
“I am confident I can catch at the next level,” Soderstrom said. “I know I can also play a corner or in the outfield. I’m happy to play anywhere on the field to get my bat in lineup. My bat is my biggest tool and being able to play a lot of different positions defensively is one of my biggest strengths.”
Today, the Giants anticipate adding another top prospect to a farm system that has made impressive strides over the last three years. Tyler anticipates hearing his name called and then eventually determining whether or not he’ll forego a commitment to UCLA to pursue his professional dreams.
In the draft, there are no guarantees. But 27 years after the Giants phoned the Soderstrom family during the first round of a Major League Baseball draft, it’s possible they’ll be doing it again.