The A's lost 4-2 to the Royals on June 13 despite homers from Tyler Soderstrom & Brent Rooker. KC's power proved too much. Read how Soderstrom shines in defeat.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was another one of *those* nights for the Oakland Athletics. The kind of night where individual brilliance shines through the clouds of a tough loss. Despite a power display from Tyler Soderstrom and Brent Rooker, the A's fell to the Kansas City Royals 4-2 on Friday, extending their frustrating losing streak to three games.
Tyler Soderstrom is on another level right now, boasting a .348 average and a staggering .783 slugging percentage to start the season.
The bats came to play, just not quite enough of them. The A's only scoring came via the long ball, with Tyler Soderstrom continuing his torrid start by launching his third homer of the season and Brent Rooker adding a solo shot of his own. It was a promising display of power from the heart of the order. Unfortunately, the Royals had their own fireworks show. Maikel Garcia and Vinnie Pasquantino combined for three home runs, accounting for all four of KC's runs and proving to be the difference-maker. The loss drops the Athletics to a tough 2-4 on the young season, a hole they'll need to dig out of quickly.
If you're looking for a silver lining, you don't have to look far. First baseman Tyler Soderstrom is proving he belongs. His hot streak is the talk of the team, and his .348/.375/.783 slash line is eye-popping. He's not just getting hits; he's driving the ball with authority. Alongside him, Brent Rooker's power provides a formidable one-two punch. While the team struggles to string together wins, the development of these key offensive pieces is exactly what this 2025 season is about. It's a sign that the building blocks for a competitive future are firmly in place.
The good news isn't just at the big-league level. The future continues to look bright down on the farm. Jacob Wilson is still among the league leaders with 21 hits and a .912 OPS, showing he's more than comfortable in the spotlight. But the biggest buzz is coming from Triple-A, where top prospect Nick Kurtz is putting on a clinic. Through 15 games, Kurtz has already mashed seven home runs and boasts a video-game-like 1.276 OPS. It's a clear signal that more help is on the way, fueling optimism that these tough losses are just a temporary part of the journey.
While another loss stings, the narrative for the A's remains one of patience. The team needs to find more consistent offense outside of its main sluggers and get the pitching to lock down leads. For now, fans can celebrate the powerful flashes from Soderstrom and Rooker and keep an eye on the monsters like Kurtz developing in the minors. The wins may not be plentiful yet, but the growth is happening right before our eyes. Here's hoping they can snap the skid in the next game.
