Recently, Athletics’ hulking rookie first baseman Nick Kurtz made baseball history.
Kurtz, who was drafted in 2004 fourth overall by the Athletics had a game for the ages when on Friday night at Dalkin Park in Houston, he put on a power display as the 6 foot 5, 240 pound-player became the first A’s rookie and first MLB player to hit four home runs in a game which recently came in a 15-3 win against the Houston Astros.
With that four-home run game, Kurtz also became only the 20th player to hit four homers in one MLB game. It was truly a game for the ages, which saw Kurtz get six hits in six at-bats and end up a triple shy of hitting for the cycle.
In total, Kurtz, with his four home runs, double, and single, accumulated 19 total bases, which tied Shawn Green’s 2002 feat for most total bases in a game.
“It’s hard to think about this day being kind of real, it still feels like a dream,” Kurtz said. “So, it’s pretty remarkable. Don’t really know what to say.”
Athletics Rookie First Baseman Kurtz Hitting Record-Setting Home Runs
Kurtz Living Up To Draft Potential
The “Big Amish”, as Kurtz is affectionately known, was originally drafted in 2024 4th overall and at 22 years of age, has impressed by already hitting 23 home runs along with 59 RBIs, 45 runs scored, and two stolen bases. Recently, Kurtz has been on a 12-game hitting streak, including 20 extra base hits and nine home runs.
Kurtz Makes Strong Case In AL Rookie of the Year Race
On Friday night, Kurtz, who was the designated hitter, not only had six hits but also scored six runs and drove in eight runs.
It wasn’t until the second inning that Kurtz, who had already scored a first-inning run, mashed his first home run of the evening, which came in a 0-1 count when Astros pitcher Ryan Gusto surrendered a two-run bomb, which had the Athletics up front by a 5-0 score.
A couple of innings later, with his parents and grandparents in the stands, Kurtz added another chapter to this magical night when he connected for a 381-foot fourth inning double to put the Athletics fully in control with a 7-0 lead.
Kurtz couldn’t be stopped as he slugged in the 6th inning a 414-foot home run off of Astros reliever Kaleb Ort to put the Athletics into double digits with a 10-2 lead on what was a truly historic night of baseball.
“Arguably the best game I’ve ever watched from a single player,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “I say that because I watched Barry Bonds in the (2001) season. I was in center field for it, and what Barry did was hands down probably one of the greatest seasons you can have. … This kids continues to have jaw-dropping moments. To witness that tonight was pretty special for all of us.”
Ninth-Inning Heroics From Kurtz
Despite it being a one-sided game, there was a lot at stake in the ninth inning when Kurtz stepped up to the plate, not thinking about hitting a fourth home run but a triple for what would have been the Athletics’ 18th home run in franchise history and first since Mark Ellis pulled the trick in 2007.
“We had a good lead,” Kurtz said about his ninth inning at bat. “So, I pretty much told (third-base coach Eric Martins) that, if I hit the gap, I’m going for three.”
Kurtz, who hit his third home run in the 8th inning, was in the 9th facing a positional player as Astros outfielder Cooper Hummel surrendered the historical fourth home run of the game to Kurtz.
“It still really hasn’t set in that it actually just happened,” Kurtz said. “A game like that is stuff you don’t even dream about, because it doesn’t really happen. It’s an unbelievable feeling.”
Rookie of the Year Race
Currently, the two leading candidates for AL Rookie of the Year are Kurtz, along with his Athletics teammate Jacob Wilson. Wilson, who plays shortstop, has produced 115 hits while scoring 46 runs and hitting 10 home runs along with 45 RBIs. Meanwhile, Kurtz is leading rookies in such categories as home runs, RBI’s, extra base hits, and OPS.
Chances are that a memorable record-setting performance against the Astros will clinch AL Rookie of the Year honors for Kurtz.
Main Image: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
