Nick Kurtz Enjoys Successful Major League Debut

The fourth overall draft pick in 2024 by the Athletics, Nick Kurtz, was promoted to the Major Leagues and made his debut on Wednesday. The club’s No. 1 prospect didn’t waste any time getting his first hit off of Texas Rangers pitcher Kumar Rocker in the bottom of the first inning. It may have been a short nine months of his professional career, but it’s certainly a productive one. 

Kurtz Delivers In First Game

In 32 career Minor League games, Kurtz has been fantastic, sporting a .336 AVG, with 11 home runs and 37 RBI for a powerful 1.120 OPS. There’s no question as to why he was promoted. It is more of why wait until now?

In his first Major League at-bat, he laced a single up the middle, just under the glove of Second Baseman Marcus Semien. Not only was it his first Major League hit, but it also scored Shea Langeliers for his first RBI and extended the Athletics’ lead to 3-0. That would be his only contribution on offense as he proceeded to ground out, pop out, and strike out in his other three at-bats. 

It didn’t matter as the Athletics took down the Rangers 5-2. Now, Kurtz has one full game under his belt and has gotten over the first-day jitters. Now it’s time to settle in and prove he belongs in the starting lineup.

The Athletics

Calling Sutter Health Park home this year has been very fruitful for the Athletics. While it is a Minor League stadium, big league teams have been tearing the cover off the ball all season long. It’s familiar territory, bringing up the rear of the American League West, but it is much closer this year as they are only three games out of first place, occupied by the Rangers they just took down.