A’s sign top draft pick Soderstrom as well as fifth-rounder

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Athletics have signed their top draft pick, left-handed hitting catcher Tyler Soderstrom.

Oakland also announced Monday that it finalized a deal with fifth-round selection pitcher Stevie Emanuels.

Soderstrom has been added to the club’s 60-player pool with workouts scheduled to begin later this week. The 18-year-old star from Turlock High, who batted .450 as a junior in 2019 with his senior season cut short this year by the coronavirus pandemic, is set to report to the A’s alternate site, likely to be Stockton.

“Super excited to be an Oakland A! Officially signed!” Soderstrom wrote on Twitter.

Emanuels went 3-1 with a 0.79 ERA and 38 strikeouts in four starts over 22 2/3 innings this year for the University of Washington.

The A’s also added three non-drafted free agents: right-hander Garrett Acton out of Illinois, catcher Cooper Uhl from Loyola Marymount and outfielder D.J. Lee of the University of Richmond.