Steve Soderstrom

by ben p on Jul 6, 2008 12:12 AM PDT

I saw a "whatever happened to Steve Soderstrom?" in a gameday thread, and since we both are from Turlock, I thought I'd answer.

Steve's in the area, and I believe he got elected to some sort of city office in a town in the Modesto area. Does some coaching on the side. Married with 2 kids. They do stories on him around here every couple years.

His sister was my high school government/economics teacher, and a good one.

I'm not old enough to remember much of his time in the big leagues. Why didn't he stick?

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Much of his time in the big leagues?

Debut: Sept. 17, 1996
Final Game: Sept. 27, 1996

There aren’t too many times to be remembering there. I’m plenty old enough and I don’t remember it either. Soderstrom had a bunch of nagging injuries that affected his development. His minor league career was never very impressive for a Top 10 pick—high walk rates, low K rates, high hit rates. Just your average top 10 flameout, really. Too bad, I always like to see Fresno St. boys do well, especially when they’re valley boys to begin with.

My boy ain't fat, he's just big boned. Big bat, too.

by Roger on Jul 6, 2008 7:26 AM PDT reply actions

Your problem regarding his career: You blinked at the wrong time.

2008 Giants: Scrappy! Scrappy! Joy! Joy!

by Goofus on Jul 6, 2008 8:10 AM PDT up reply actions

I’m the one who mentioned him, because I remembered being in attendance at his first ML win back in 1996. My recollection is that he had his cup of coffee in 1996, didn’t put up terribly impressive numbers, and then in 1997 or 1998, he was in competition for the fifth starter spot but lost out to a veteran. At the time I was hoping he’d resurface and become a good pitcher, as I was there for his first W, but I never remember hearing his name again – hence my asking what became of him.

I was wrong about him being ranked our top prospect, though – I was probably thinking of Mike Fontenot, who Baseball America had as our #1 in 1997. I definitely remember hearing about Soderstrom as a prospect, though. I remember being excited about getting to see him start at that game in 1996.

The Giants had a lot of pitching prospects who amounted to nothing at the time – Fontenot, Nate Bump, Darrin Blood, etc. The best of the lot turned out to be Shawn Estes.

by jcb9 on Jul 6, 2008 8:45 AM PDT reply actions

Oh, and Keith Foulke, come to think of it. He amounted to something, just not for us.

by jcb9 on Jul 6, 2008 8:48 AM PDT up reply actions

and Bobby Howry, Lorenzo Barcelo, and then Joe Nathan

by joe t on Jul 6, 2008 9:03 AM PDT up reply actions

I was remembering Nathan as coming along later, but now that I check, he did first hit the majors in 1999, which makes him the same period, I suppose. Barcelo only really had half a good season, though.

by jcb9 on Jul 6, 2008 9:16 AM PDT up reply actions

Barcelo was the key guy for the sox in the white flag deal

that netted Alvarez, Hernandez, and Darwin. The Sox wouldn’t make the deal without him included, despite the fact that the other guys included MIke Caruso (started for them at SS in 98), Foulke, and Howry.

by joe t on Jul 6, 2008 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions

Well, yes, but that doesn’t mean he ever had a Major League career that amounted to anything. There have been plenty of Giants prospects who were part of valuable trades but who were also busts – Salomon Torres, Nate Bump, Joe Fontenot (who I called Mike Fontenot earlier in this thread – oops!) Ryan Vogelsong, Jason Grilli, etc.

by jcb9 on Jul 6, 2008 11:11 AM PDT up reply actions