Wednesday night, the Oakland A's scooped up Turlock High School catcher Tyler Soderstrom, son of former big leaguer Steve Soderstrom, with the 26th overall pick _ straying from their recent trend of selecting established college players in the first round.
On Thursday, Oakland pivoted back on trend and to a farm need, selecting with the 58th overall pick Michigan right-handed pitcher Jeff Criswell.
Criswell was primarily a starter with the Wolverines, but pitched key innings in relief during Michigan's College World Series run in 2019. In two appearances against Texas Tech in Omaha, Criswell recorded two saves in five scoreless innings. He tossed five innings of relief against Vanderbilt in a College World Series Finals game.
In a coronavirus-shortened 2020 season, Criswell made four starts with a 4.50 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 26 innings. He started 17 games in 2019, through all appearances accumulating a 2.72 ERA with 116 strikeouts.
The A's are relatively thin at pitching in the lower levels of their minor league system, with most of their touted pitching prospects nearing, or already Major-League ready. Left-handed pitchers Jesus Luzardo and A.J. Puk are expected to be rotational mainstays if an when the 2020 season begins. Top ranked right-handed pitching prospects Daulton Jefferies, James Kaprielian, Grant Holmes, Parker Dunshee and Brian Howard were expected to start the 2020 season with the triple-A Las Vegas Aviators.
The A's had a quick turnaround before locking into the final four rounds of the 2020 MLB Draft on Thursday. On Day 2, the A's had the 58, 98, 127 and 157 picks. They'll compete with all 29 other teams in a $20,000-contract bonanza offered to un-drafted amateur players starting at 6 a.m. PT on Monday, June 14.
