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Soderstrom signs $3.3M contract with Oakland A’s
soderstrom
Tyler Soderstrom of Turlock High was selected 26th overall in the MLB draft by the Oakland A’s. - photo by Journal file photo
Less than three weeks after being drafted in the first round of the 2020 Major League Baseball draft, Turlock’s Tyler Soderstrom has agreed to a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics that includes a $3.3 million signing bonus.

According to MLB.com reporter Jim Callis, this is the largest bonus for a prep catcher in the bonus-pool era.

Selected 26th overall, Soderstrom is expected to begin team workouts later this week as part of the Athletics’ 60-man player pool at an alternate training camp in Stockton, making him eligible to participate in MLB games during the 2020 season. The signing nulls his commitment to play collegiate baseball at UCLA.

“Super excited to be an Oakland A! Officially signed!” Soderstrom tweeted on Monday.

A four-year varsity starter at Turlock High, the 6-foot-2 catcher batted .450 in his junior season along with four home runs, 27 RBIs and an on-base percentage of .565.