WEST SACRAMENTO 每 The hyper-fast track that Nick Kurtz was placed on by the Athletics shortly after getting drafted last year and tearing through Minor League pitching has finally taken him to The Show.
Only nine months after the A＊s selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Wake Forest, Kurtz, rated the club＊s No. 1 prospect and the No. 35 overall prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline, will be making his Major League debut this week at Sutter Health Park. The first baseman will be called up from Triple-A Las Vegas, a source told MLB.com, and join the A＊s in West Sacramento for their upcoming six-game homestand, which begins on Tuesday night against the Rangers. The team has not confirmed the move.
Because they are scheduled to face left-hander Patrick Corbin in Tuesday＊s series opener, the A＊s could hold off on officially adding the left-handed hitting Kurtz to their roster until Wednesday. Regardless of which day he debuts, Kurtz will become the sixth-fastest player in franchise history to reach the big leagues in terms of days from the date he was drafted, at either 282 or 283 days.
The list:
Mike Morgan: Debuted 5 days after being drafted (6/6/78 - 6/11/78)
Tim Conroy: 17 days (6/6/78 - 6/23/78)
Ariel Prieto: 31 days (6/1/95 - 7/2/95)
Rich Bordi: 43 days (6/3/80 - 7/16/80)
Scott Meyer: 96 days (6/6/78 - 9/10/78)
Nick Kurtz: 282 or 283 days (7/14/24 - 4/22/25 or 4/23/25)
Huston Street: 303 days (6/7/04 - 4/6/05)
Because of an advanced approach at the plate dating back to his college days, Kurtz was aggressively moved through the system from the jump. He began his professional career with Single-A Stockton last season, and after thrashing California League pitching to the tune of a .400/.571/.960 slash line with four home runs, two doubles and 12 RBIs through seven games, he bypassed High-A and was promoted straight to Double-A Midland, where he hit .308 (4-for-13) in five games before a hamstring injury cut his season short.
Recovering from the hamstring strain in October, Kurtz made up for lost time by playing in the Arizona Fall League. Again, he shined by hitting .353 with a 1.058 OPS in 13 games.
After leaving a strong impression in his first big league camp this spring, Kurtz 每 who turned 22 last month 每 began the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Las Vegas, where he has dominated by leading the Minors with seven home runs.
But it goes beyond the power. Through 20 games, Kurtz is hitting .321/.385/.655 with 10 walks. He is a complete hitter, which is why he will reach the Majors with a grand total of just 32 Minor League games under his belt, carrying a career .336 batting average and 1.121 OPS.
The only question remaining when it comes to Kurtz: Where is he going to play? He is considered a solid defender at first base, though Tyler Soderstrom is currently manning the position for the A＊s while enjoying a breakout campaign in which he is currently tied for the MLB home run lead.
While discussing Kurtz＊s potential arrival earlier this month, manager Mark Kotsay said there could be an opportunity for a rotation between the outfield, first base and designated hitter position for Kurtz, Soderstrom and Brent Rooker.
Whatever position Kurtz ends up at, the A＊s will be thrilled to add his impact bat to an already potent lineup. They are confident in the metrics that suggest his advanced hit tool will play well at the highest level.
Described as a ※monster§ by A＊s director of player development Ed Sprague during Spring Training, the 6-foot-5, 240-pound Kurtz and all of his massive raw power are about to be unleashed on the league, and the A＊s hope he will continue his tormenting of every opposing pitcher in his way.
※We saw in Spring Training how advanced he is for his age,§ Kotsay said. ※His approach. His ability to make adjustments. ＃ For a young player in his first full season to have the start that he＊s had, it＊s pretty impressive.§