Tyler Soderstrom, the Athletics’ first baseman, has dominated Major League Baseball to start the 2025 season.
Soderstrom hit another home run against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, April 17, resulting in an 8-0 victory. That was his ninth home run in 19 games this year, matching his career high from last season.
With his hot start, Soderstrom is on track to break Barry Bonds’ single-season home run record of 73 set in 2001.
Tyler Soderstrom on Pace to Break Barry Bonds Home Run Record
Soderstrom is in his third MLB season, all with the Athletics. In his first 81 plate appearances this season, the 23-year-old has hit.315/.383/.712 with a league-leading nine home runs and 18 RBI.
If he continues at this rate, the Athletics’ first baseman could make MLB history in 2025. According to BetMGM, Soderstrom is on pace for 77 home runs this season, which would easily break Bonds’ single-season record.
Bonds hit 73 home runs and drove in 137 RBIs for the San Francisco Giants in 2001. If he maintains his current pace, Soderstrom could break Bonds’ record in only his third MLB season.
In terms of Athletics franchise history, he is only the fifth player to hit at least nine home runs in the first 19 games of a Major League Baseball season. Khris Davis in 2019 and Bob Cerv in 1958 each hit ten home runs in their first 19 games.
Soderstrom’s pace is comparable to two other players in Athletics history: Mark McGwire in 1992 and Reggie Jackson in 1974.
Soderstrom, a catcher from Turlock High School, was selected by the Athletics in the first round (26th overall) of the 2020 Major League Baseball draft. The lefty slugger wasn’t bad behind the plate, but the organization moved him to first base as Shea Langeliers emerged as the team’s future catcher.
Soderstrom has adjusted well to his new position and is hitting like a vintage first baseman should. As of April 18, Soderstrom’s home run lead was narrow. Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh has eight, New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge has seven, and a slew of other players have six.
The youngster is likely to slow down and ultimately fail to match Bonds’ impressive record. In a post-steroid MLB, it is unlikely that anyone will break that record. Nonetheless, Soderstrom’s breakout season is a good sign for an Athletics team looking to break out of its rebuilding phase ahead of a potential move to Las Vegas in three years.
