OAKLAND -- The past week has provided some glimpses of why the A¡¯s believe there is a bright future beyond their current rebuild.

It began last week with the highly anticipated Major League debut of Jacob Wilson -- rated by MLB Pipeline as Oakland¡¯s No. 1 prospect and the No. 49 overall prospect in baseball. It continued on Monday, when the A¡¯s announced the signing of Nick Kurtz, a first baseman out of Wake Forest University whom they selected with the No. 4 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.

• Get to know Nick Kurtz

Kurtz, 21, was joined by his family at the Coliseum on Monday to officially sign his first professional contract before the A¡¯s series opener against the Astros. The deal is worth $7 million, a source told MLB Pipeline¡¯s Jim Callis, which is below the $8,370,800 slot value.

¡°I don¡¯t know if there¡¯s a word to really describe it,¡± said Kurtz, who joined the A¡¯s on the field to take grounders and batting practice. ¡°This is awesome. This is what you dream of as a kid. This is why you put in all those hours for this kind of moment. I¡¯m just so excited to be here. It¡¯s been so much fun.¡±

Earlier in the day, Kurtz was situated with his own locker inside the A¡¯s clubhouse and met several A¡¯s players and coaches, including manager Mark Kotsay. At one point, Kotsay summoned Wilson, who just last year was the No. 6 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft by the A¡¯s, into his office to meet Kurtz.

¡°It was interesting,¡± Kotsay said. ¡°You don¡¯t normally see two of your first-rounders, this year¡¯s and last year¡¯s, in the same room together. Jacob had a good conversation with Nick, as well, just about what this day is like and what the next couple of weeks are.

• A's 2024 Draft signings tracker

¡°We were joking about Jacob being here and taking BP [in 2023] and then playing in a game here in less than a year. The hope is maybe that Kurtz can follow that same path.¡±

Wilson -- currently on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain -- fast-tracked himself to the big leagues by hitting .401 throughout 72 career Minor League games, reaching the big leagues just 376 days from the date he was drafted.

Wilson¡¯s rapid ascent provides an exciting example for Kurtz of how quickly his own big league dream could be realized if his performance lines up with what the A¡¯s expect from him.

¡°It¡¯s awesome to be able to see that,¡± Kurtz said of Wilson getting called up. ¡°If I put in the work and perform the way I¡¯m supposed to and the way I think I will, there¡¯s a good chance I could be up here fast. Just being here around all those guys and meeting everyone, it¡¯s a pretty fun organization to be a part of.¡±

Kurtz, the No. 7 Draft prospect in the MLB Pipeline rankings, was considered one of the top overall hitters in the Draft. He presents a blend of a powerful left-handed bat with an excellent eye and strong bat-to-ball skills. In addition to posting a 1.294 OPS with 22 homers in 2024, he led college baseball with 78 walks.

The A¡¯s were also impressed with Kurtz¡¯s defensive capabilities at first base, with scouting director Eric Kubota likening his combination of hitting and defense to former A¡¯s and current Braves first baseman Matt Olson.

¡°Matt Olson is one of the best first basemen in the league,¡± Kurtz said. ¡°He¡¯s really fun to watch. He had great years while he was here, and then he gets over to Atlanta and is still doing what he does every year. To be talked about like he is, is pretty awesome to hear.¡±

Kurtz has a long way to go before reaching Olson-level success. For now, he¡¯ll look to carve his own path by reporting to the A¡¯s Minor League complex in Mesa, Ariz., on Tuesday. He is expected to begin his pro career at either Single-A Stockton or High-A Lansing within the next couple of weeks.

¡°I¡¯m just anxious, excited to get going,¡± Kurtz said. ¡°I haven¡¯t played in a while, and I get bored easily. I was just sitting around for a while waiting for this day, and it finally came. ¡­ I¡¯m excited the time is finally here.¡±