Watch: Unlikely slugger helps A's start new era off with a bang

Athletics first baseman Tyler Soderstrom. Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

Watch: Unlikely slugger helps Athletics start new era off with a bang

By Mike J. Asti | Last updated Mar 28, 2025 12:22 AM ET

Despite an uncertain future, the Athletics started off the 2025 season with a bang. That bang was thanks to a mammoth home run by Tyler Soderstrom.

It took five innings for Soderstrom to put the first run on the board of the Athletics' season in their Opening Day visit to Seattle. With the score reading 0-0, Soderstrom crushed a pitch right down the middle that then went over the fence in deep center field.

Tyler Soderstrom launches one way beyond the center field fence #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/HR9q1mD8QW
— MLB (@MLB) March 28, 2025

The homer went 432 feet and had an exit velocity of 108.7 mph.

So while most don't expect much from the A's, who will play their home games in West Sacramento after wrapping up their 57-year tenure in Oakland with the conclusion of the 2024 season, they at least delivered an early highlight in Game 1.

The highlight also comes from an unlikely source, as Soderstrom entered the year with only 12 career MLB home runs. Nine of those homers came from the 61 games he played for the then-Oakland Athletics during the 2024 season. He also hit .233, registered 44 hits, drove in 26 runs, scored 18 times while posting a .315 OBP and .429 slugging percentage.

Soderstrom earned an Opening Day start at first base and batted seventh in the lineup despite hitting only .222 in 20 games throughout spring training.

After the Athletics finish this four-game series against the Mariners, they will host the Chicago Cubs in an early edition of an interleague series starting Monday.

Mike J. Asti

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

More must-reads: