Soderstrom and Gelof: Not How They Planned it, But in the Majors Nonetheless

When Zack Gelof pictured getting the call up to the big leagues, he didn't exactly picture it going down the way it did on Wednesday. "I didn't think I'd be lying in my bed in Delaware. I'd think I was going to be meeting in the office with Fran [Riordan] and calling my parents, but I ended up sprinting down the stairs like it was Christmas."

Tyler Soderstrom and Zack Gelof have been officially added to the A's roster. They are in the building. They're in Friday's starting lineup. It's go time for the future of the Oakland A's. 

Soderstrom, 21, was drafted in the first round of the 2020 draft at pick 26. He started the 2022 season in High-A Lansing, and made it all the way up to Triple-A Las Vegas as a 20-year-old while hitting 29 homers and bringing home 105. 

This season he has 20 home runs in 69 games in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. The part-time catcher and part-time first baseman will be the team's DH, batting fifth for the A's. Gelof, 23, will be batting right behind him. 

Soderstrom admitted pregame that getting called up at the All Star break wasn't how he thought his promotion would happen."I never expected to be called up for the All Star break. I always thought it would happen some other way. But I was in Seattle for the Futures Game, and I flew home Sunday morning, into Turlock, so I was close." 

The A's top prospect always pictured his call-up coming after a game, or during a game, and then he'd have to call his parents. "But it was pretty cool. I got the call at home, and I got to go share it in person with my parents, my brother, and my whole family, so it was pretty cool."

Gelof, the A's number three prospect, was also at home in Delaware when the A's tried to reach him on Wednesday morning. Only problem was, his phone was dead when he woke up, so he went and charged it and when it came back to life there was a text from his Triple-A manager Fran Riordan that said "Call me. It's important." 

His brother, Jake Gelof, was just selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second round of the MLB Draft earlier this week, and Zack had spent a couple of days celebrating his brother's big news, wearing a Dodger hat around the house. Fran told him not to get too used to it, because he would be wearing an A's hat in Oakland. 

"I was really pumped to be home, celebrate my brother on him getting drafted, then you know, I guess me being back in the spotlight." 

Gelof's immediate family will be at the ballpark tonight, including his recently-drafted brother. There has been no word on whether Jake will be wearing an A's hat at the game. 

Through nine July games, Gelof was 17-for-43 (.395) in Triple-A, with four homers, 16 rbi, and three steals. 

On the photo Gelof posted on social media on Wednesday that got fans speculating that Soderstrom and himself were on the way: "I just thought it was funny, and maybe give the fans something to look forward to. I know they've been in a tough spot, but you know, anything to keep it exciting and trending in the right direction for this team." 

Gelof will be wearing the number 20, while Soderstrom will have number 37.