Could A's top prospect Tyler Soderstrom be developed in mold of Buster Posey?
Make no mistake about it. Tyler Soderstrom is a catcher. The As top prospect is so nimble that he could eventually play a corner spot in the majors, and hes such an advanced hitter that he might find a faster track to big-league ball than plodding behind the plate. But he wants to be a catcher, and those closest to the situation agree. I think his future as a catcher is bright, said Rico Brogna, who manages Soderstrom every day at Low-A Stockton. Although he can do other things, I would like him to become a Joe Mauer or Buster Posey with years at catcher, where later on, he could make an easy transition to first or third. That would be many, many years from now.  Soderstrom, who was selected No. 26 overall last year, will turn 20 in November. He was Californias Gatorade Player of the Year out of Turlock High (Stanislaus County), even though his senior season was cut short after five games because of the coronavirus pandemic. His junior year of hitting .450 with four homers in high school and coffee-spilling talent during international competitions was enough to net a $3.3 million signing bonus  the largest for a prep catcher in the bonus-pool era, according to MLB.com. Baltimores Adley Rutschman (No. 2) and San Franciscos Joey Bart (No. 18) are the only catchers listed among the top 30 of MLB.coms top prospects. Soderstrom is No. 86 overall and one of only two catchers younger than 21 years old (the Mets Francisco Alvarez at No. 37) among the top 100. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder has lived up to the billing, even after no competitive live action in nearly two years and no professional experience. Soderstrom is hitting .299 with five homers, 26 RBIs and 21 runs for Low-A Stockton going into Tuesdays game. Four of the homers have come in the past 11 games, so Brogna wants him in the lineup. Soderstrom has started 22 games at catcher, seven at designated hitter and six at first base, but his development behind the plate is paramount. Brogna said Soderstrom is part of daily meetings with the starting pitcher and pitching coach to develop game plans and gets to call his own pitch sequencing. The manager said it doesnt make sense to have catchers rely on wristbands or looking to the dugout for calls at this level, because mistakes can often impart the best lessons. Those teaching moments have happened, including Soderstrom coming back to the dugout to violently toss his gear or yell an expletive. Brogna has enjoyed each one of those outbursts. Maybe its called makeup, character, heart, determination, but Brogna eventually decided on: He has that spark.  Hes determined. Hes not satisfied. Hes always pushing himself. : Since Nick Allen reported back to Midland from Team USAs Olympic qualifying, the As Double-A franchise has had to juggle a trio of middle infield prospects who deserve to be getting at-bats every day. Allen, the franchises third-best prospect, has played three games at shortstop and two at second base. Logan Davidson, No. 5 on the As list, has played two at shortstop, two at third base and one at designated hitter. No. 21 prospect Jeremy Eierman has played three at third base, one at second and one at designated hitter. What happens in Vegas: Triple-A Las Vegas first baseman Frank Schwindel was named the leagues player of the week after batting .429 (12-for-28) with six home runs and 10 RBIs. An 18th-round pick by Kansas City in 2013, Schwindel is not considered much of a prospect as he approaches age 29. But the guy can hit. Schwindel batted .332 and .349 in his final two seasons at St. Johns in 2012-13. In between six games at the big-league level for the Royals in 2019, he hit .329 for two minor-league teams in 2017 and .311 for Las Vegas in 2021. Rusty Simmons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rsimmons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Rusty_SFChron