The Athletics’ promotion of first base prospect Nick Kurtz, the No. 4 overall pick from last year’s draft, gives the team three middle-of-the-order but defensively limited sluggers: Kurtz, first baseman Tyler Soderstrom and designated hitter Brent Rooker. Soderstrom and Rooker have primarily handled first base and DH, respectively, in 2025, but GM David Forst tells reporters that Soderstrom is now expected to see some time in left field (link via Martin Gallegos of MLB.com). Rooker could also see occasional corner outfield time; he’s briefly appeared in both left field and right field already this season.
Kurtz, listed at 6’5″ and 240 pounds, is unlikely to see any time on the grass. He was a bat-first selection by the A’s last year, and his performance in Triple-A this season has largely mirrored that of Soderstrom on the big league roster. Through 97 plate appearances, he’s slashing .321/.385/.655 with seven homers and seven doubles. Kurtz has fanned in 26.8% of his plate appearances but also walked at a 10.3% clip.
Though he’s not likely to see time in the outfield, that doesn’t mean Kurtz is without defensive value. Baseball America tabs him as a potential plus defender at first base, noting that he moves better than one might expect given his size and that he has reliable hands. MLB.com agrees, calling him an “excellent” first base defender despite lacking the speed or range necessary to play other positions.
With Kurtz seemingly ticketed for regular work at first base or designated hitter, Soderstrom and Rooker will be forced to see more regular time in the outfield. Soderstrom has slightly above-average sprint speed, per Statcast, and scouting reports have long credited him with an above-average arm — as one would expect from a former catcher. He probably won’t be a plus defender in the outfield, but he also hasn’t graded well at first base anyhow. If he can continue at even 75% of his current .298/.362/.643 pace, the A’s probably won’t care much about the defense — regardless of which position he’s manning.
It’s a similar story with Rooker. He’s played first base and the outfield corners in the past, never drawing positive grades at any spot. For a player who’s sporting a .268/.343/.523 batting line and 75 home runs over his past 1240 plate appearances, however, that’s a secondary consideration.
If all three of Rooker, Soderstrom and Kurtz are hitting anywhere close to their full capabilities, the A’s suddenly look like one of the most formidable lineups in the American League. Leadoff man Lawrence Butler, who signed an extension prior to the season, is out to a terrific start after a big finish last year. He’s batting .289/.340/.534 (150 wRC+) in 424 plate appearances dating back to last June. JJ Bleday, who hit .243/.324/.437 with 20 homers last year, has begun to heat up after a cold start. Shortstop Jacob Wilson, the No. 6 overall pick in 2023, doesn’t have much power but has some of the league’s best contact skills and has hit .299/.332/.402 in his first 185 plate appearances. Catcher Shea Langeliers isn’t likely to hit for a high average, but he popped 29 homers last season and already has five in 2025.
Soderstrom is just done as a catcher, I guess?
He would only get into a game or two a week with Langeliers not able to do anything other than DH. That would be a tough juggle for Kotsay.
They could trade langeliers and put sody at catcher
If you want to run the organization like a fantasy baseball team, then sure.
Trading Langeliers would be the dumbest thing right now. This guy hits for power and can help the A’s. No reason they can’t platoon Langeliers and Soderstrom at catcher.
A’s have Daniel Susac waiting on the winds. He’s a superior defender behind the plate with a powerful arm. Trade Langeliers and get a couple of proven SPs which is what the A’s need to compete. C’mon!
This ^^ lacks so much understanding.
He was never a catcher.
He was drafted as a catcher in the first round, as I recall, and his BRef page still lists him as a Catcher and 1B.
But, with his speed, arm, and bat, he may make an excellent corner OFer. I’m interested to see how that transition plays out a year from now.
What speed? He has only 2 stolen bases ever in the minor leagues and still hasn’t swiped a bag yet in the majors
At least right field doesn’t require a ton of speed it mainly needs strength
He is above MLB average in speed (iirc), and for a catcher or corner OFer, that will be a very useful tool. I’m honestly not aware of his base running acumen (or lack thereof).
He has a 27.7 ft/sec Sprint Speed, which already makes him on of the faster LEFT fielders in the game.
baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/sprint_speed?mi…
He was done as a catcher 2 years ago.
I don’t get this. Tyler is hitting well. Why possibly get in his head with a move like this?
The entire article is about why.
“…Soderstorm and Rooker will be FORCED to see more time in the outfield…” That’s what jumped out at me fellas. You gotta guy hitting well, don’t mess with him.
Maybe. The Orioles brought up Mayo last year and he crapped the bed. But to your point, there is only one way to find out…
Kurtz throws Left-handed and he is not as athletic as Soderstrom, so Tyler gets some reps in Left field.
Hey A’s fans, only 16 games at catcher? is he that bad behind the dish?
yes
He definitely struggled with blocking and framing (as does Langeliers, to be fair). But he probably wasn’t going to supplant Langeliers, so the position change was more about getting his bat to the show faster. A similar thing happened with Josh Donaldson.
Won’t be enough at bats for all of them. I would expect one or more of these names to be traded elsewhere by summer.
Do you even watch the A’s? Soderstrom in left is the way to go to get him, Rooker and Kurtz in the same line up. They’ll be just fine.
The better move may be to just have Rooker play LF full time and live with his subpar defense. Soderstrom has never played the outfield as a professional, and having him make such a big switch defensively this abruptly and early into the season might mess with him at the plate, which is the last thing they want to have happen. Rooker is not a good defender, but at least has a lot of outfield experience as a professional. They should probably just DH Soderstrom and live with Rooker in LF. It’s worth it if Rooker continues mashing like he did last year.
I was thinking the same thing but I’m not an A’s fan and haven’t seen Rooker in the OF.
However, Soderstrom is younger and it seems like giving him a shot at LF makes some sense given his strong arm and athleticism.
Anyway, this is a very goood problem to have and one that any team would be happy to deal with. The A’s lineup is gonna be great. I would keep all 3 of these guys.
Sacramento A’s may have a lot of games where both teams score in double figures!
Jared-No way they trade any of these guys. This is the 2nd coming of the Bash Bros all ready to be in there prime when the team finally makes it to Vegas!
This makes the most sense. Improves infield defense, and outfield defense is probably a wash. Soderstrom probably won’t be much worse defensively than what the A’s have already been running out there in left to this point. Tools wise, Soderstrom can be a good fit in left, my only criticism is that the A’s could have given him some run in spring training in left, given that this situation was fairly predictable.
Soderstrom to LF with his catcher’s arm could be a stroke of genius or a fielding fiasco.
Anyone else old enough to remember when the Dodgers moved Joe Ferguson from catcher to the outfield, in favor of Steve Yeager. In the 1974 World Series, Ferguson made an alltime great throw, with his catcher’s arm, throwing a perfect strike to nail Sal Bando at the plate.