Hello! Welcome to another edition of the A’s Beat newsletter. ARLINGTON – Nick Kurtz heard his name announced as the fourth overall selection of the 2024 MLB Draft by the A’s last July 14. Almost one year from that date, he put together a performance in the big leagues that earned him recognition amongst the game’s elite. The spectacular start to Kurtz’s career brought him his first Player of the Week Award, receiving the honor for the American League before Monday’s series opener against the Rangers at Globe Life Field for his red-hot series against the Guardians over the weekend. Upon returning from the All-Star break, Kurtz batted .583 (7-for-12) with a home run, four doubles, a triple and four RBIs in three games at Cleveland. By tallying multiple hits and an extra-base hit in four consecutive games dating back to July 13, Kurtz joined some elite company. He became the first A’s player to accomplish that feat since Lawrence Butler did so from July 14-21 of last season. Among players aged 22 or younger, Kurtz is only the third player in A’s history to achieve the feat, joining Jose Canseco (June 24-28, 1987) and Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx (July 26-29, 1928). |
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“I didn’t know that,” Kurtz said. “That’s pretty cool to be part of the group with those two guys. It felt great to put on a good show over the weekend.” Among all MLB players under the age of 23, Kurtz became the first player with multiple doubles and at least one RBI in consecutive games since Elly De La Cruz, who did it last season from Aug. 5-6. Before Kurtz and De La Cruz, the only other under-23 players to accomplish the feat since 2000 were Gordon Beckham in 2009 with the White Sox and Miguel Cabrera with the Marlins in 2005. “Really impressive week,” manager Mark Kotsay said of Kurtz, referencing his opposite-field homer against Cleveland on Saturday. “The other day, he had a 3-0 green light and didn’t swing at the fastball. He hit the cutter out to left field. There’s only a few guys in the game that can hit oppo homers and know, when you got it, you got it, which he did. It’s like Barry Bonds and Jim Thome and a couple of Hall of Famers.” Kurtz showed off that incredible power again on Monday night by bashing another opposite-field shot for his 19th homer of the year, this one a 378-foot solo blast off Jack Leiter. “Nick continues to impress with just the advancement,” Kotsay said. “For such a young player who hasn’t gotten a lot of at-bats at the Major League level, to be able to do what he’s doing is really impressive.” Entering Monday leading the Majors in wRC+ (209) among hitters with at least 125 plate appearances since May 20, Kurtz, whose 18 homers during that span are third most in the AL behind only Cal Raleigh (23) and Aaron Judge (21), is building a legit case to threaten fellow teammate and season-long AL Rookie of the Year favorite Jacob Wilson for the prestigious award. |
As of Monday morning, BetMGM listed Wilson as the favorite for AL Rookie of the Year at +100 odds, while Kurtz was right on his tail at +180. If Wilson and Kurtz were to finish 1 and 2 in Rookie of the Year voting in either order, they would become just the ninth set of teammates to do so and the first in the AL since 1984 Mariners teammates Alvin Davis and Mark Langston. “We haven’t really talked about it much,” Kurtz said. “But it’s awesome that’s it’s most likely going to be an A’s player. It’s really cool. Whether I win it or he wins it, we’re just really looking forward to represent the A’s and what we’re all about. Individual awards are good and all, but it’s not why we we play the game. We’re excited to keep going and keep improving.” Of course, Kurtz and Wilson are only headliners in a talented young core forming at the Major League level that has the A’s excited about the direction they are heading in as a team. That group also includes Butler, Denzel Clarke, Tyler Soderstrom, Shea Langeliers and Max Muncy. “It’s awesome to see,” Kurtz said. “We’re really young. This stuff doesn’t happen overnight. We’re not going to be a 100-win team right away. There are some hurdles we need to hop over to become one unit and one team. But I think we’re moving in the right direction.” |
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MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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For the upcoming Aug. 3 game against the D-backs at Sutter Health Park, every fan in attendance will receive a special A’s-themed backpack. Just in time for back to school, the green and gold backpack features a giant white A’s logo in the middle. Kids 12 and under in attendance that day will also have the opportunity to run the bases after the game. For more information visit: https://www.mlb.com/athletics/tickets/promotions |
Only one A's player has driven in 10 runs in a single game. Who is it? A. Reggie Jackson B. Jimmie Foxx C. Miguel Tejada D. Jason Giambi |
The A’s will be without defensive wiz Denzel Clarke for an extended amount of time after the rookie center fielder was diagnosed with a Grade 2 adductor strain. More>> |
A. Reggie Jackson (June 14, 1969) |
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