'He’s Babe Ruth for us': Soderstrom (2 HRs) blasts his way to history

CHICAGO -- Tyler Soderstrom is reaching historic levels of production in what continues to be an unreal start to the season.

Entering Tuesday night as part of an eight-way tie for the Major League lead in home runs with six, Soderstrom quickly retook sole possession by drilling a 388-foot three-run blast to right-center off White Sox starter Sean Burke. Five innings later, the Athletics first baseman turned on a 0-1 sweeper from reliever Penn Murfee for another three-run shot to right, this one traveling even further than the first as a 423-foot no-doubter.

Providing half of the offense in a 12-3 victory over Chicago at Rate Field, Soderstrom etched his name in the record books alongside baseball royalty. He is the first player in AL/NL history age 23 or younger with three multihomer games in his team’s first 17 games of a season. Only one other player in A's franchise history has accomplished the feat in general: Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, who did it in 1974.

“It’s pretty surreal,” Soderstrom said of his early-season tear. “Growing up as a kid, I’d be pretty proud of myself right now. I’m just glad to be in this position. I’m super grateful for this opportunity, and I’m just trying to have a good time and take it day by day.”

Having just turned 23 in November, Soderstrom has a long ways to go for the club record of multihomer games in a season for a player age 23 or younger of eight, which is also held by Jackson. But with three such games in less than three weeks of the 2025 season, Soderstrom has already cracked the top five in that category as the first A’s player age 23 or younger with three multihomer games in a season since 2001.

That list is also filled with a slew of A’s legends:

1. Reggie Jackson (8) in 1969
2. Mark McGwire (7) in 1987
3. Jose Canseco (4) in 1987
4-T. Tyler Soderstrom (3) in 2025
4-T. Eric Chavez (3) in 2001
4-T. Jimmie Foxx (3) in 1930
4-T. Jimmie Foxx (3) in 1929

When it comes to all of MLB, Soderstrom is just the fifth player with three multihomer games in his team’s first 17 games of a season. The other four:

Teoscar Hernández (2020)
Carlos Delgado (2001)
Reggie Jackson (1974)
Ken Keltner (1948)

Out of the 26 players in the A’s clubhouse, Lawrence Butler might be the least surprised by Soderstrom’s sudden emergence. Since Soderstrom joined the organization as the 26th overall selection of the 2020 MLB Draft, Butler had a front-row seat for most of his 72 home runs across four Minor League seasons as a teammate.

“Like I said before,” Butler said. “He’s my pick to click this year. I’ve seen him do it in [Single-A], High-A, Double-A and Triple-A. Now he’s doing in the big leagues. He’s Babe Ruth for us right now. I hope he keeps it going.”

There’s no reason for the A’s to believe Soderstrom will not keep it going. Since the day he was drafted out of Turlock High School (Calif.), the scouting reports tabbed him as a talented hitter with special power and an approach at the plate well beyond his years.

Though that hitting tool took a while to develop with more ups and downs at the Major League level over the previous two seasons, Soderstrom is now looking every bit like that hitter the A’s believed he would eventually become, barreling up every pitch in the zone that comes his way.

“I just feel comfortable,” Soderstrom said. “I feel like I’m controlling the zone. I’m getting good pitches and I’m able to put good swings on them. … I’m just trying to keep putting good at-bats together, keep getting wins and having a good time.”

Soderstrom was part of an overall return to form by the A’s offense after a brief power outage that saw just 10 runs scored over the previous four games. The top four hitters in the order -- Butler, Brent Rooker, Soderstrom and Shea Langeliers -- will be counted on for the A’s to have success this year, and the foursome combined to go 10-for-18 on Tuesday with three homers, a double and nine RBIs.

The cherry on top for Soderstrom’s third multihomer effort of the season was that it came in his first Jackie Robinson Day as a big leaguer. To celebrate the occasion, he wore customized Nike cleats featuring Robinson’s iconic No. 42 covering both sides of each shoe.

“I couldn’t be more grateful to do it on Jackie Robinson Day,” Soderstrom said. “He meant so much to this game for so many people, so it’s pretty cool.”