'A monster out there,' Kurtz closes ground in ROY race

WEST SACRAMENTO -- Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson, the current favorite to win American League Rookie of the Year, may soon be facing some stiff competition from teammate Nick Kurtz.

Ranked by MLB Pipeline as the A’s No. 1 prospect and the No. 14 overall prospect, Kurtz continued the exact type of tear that many foresaw at the time he was selected fourth overall in the 2024 MLB Draft. The 22-year-old first baseman notched a career-high three hits and finished a triple shy of the cycle Wednesday night in an 11-4 loss to the Astros at Sutter Health Park.

The three-hit night was highlighted by Kurtz’s eighth home run of the season, a 413-foot drive off reliever Nick Hernandez. It was his third homer in his past four games, and the eight homers put him in a tie with Wilson for the second most among Major League rookies, behind Miami’s Agustín Ramírez (10).

Kurtz has done that despite being slowed down by a left hip flexor strain that caused him to miss 14 games from May 25-June 8.

“That’s the big bright spot tonight,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “This kid continues to impress. He continues to take great at-bats. The power is there, as you saw tonight.”

The big fly will get the shine, but Kurtz’s first two hits of the night were perhaps the most significant. Both came off Astros starter Framber Valdez -- an opposite-field double to left in the second inning and a single ripped 103.7 mph in the sixth, marking just his third and fourth career hits off a left-hander.

Entering Wednesday, Kurtz had just two hits in 31 plate appearances against lefties.

“That was a good step for me,” Kurtz said. “[Valdez] is one of the best left-handed pitchers in the game. … I remember watching him on TV in the World Series doing it. Seeing him in person, it’s as advertised. So it felt good to get some good at-bats off of him.”

Of course, it will be tough to track down Wilson, who, after notching another hit on Wednesday, sits at 99 total hits for the season, just one shy of Yankees star Aaron Judge for the MLB lead. But Kurtz is well on his way to becoming a factor in the AL Rookie of the Year conversation, even with a late start that saw him get called up on April 23.

In addition to now being tied for second in homers, Kurtz ranks second among qualified Major League rookies with a .496 slugging percentage (behind Wilson, .500). His .801 OPS ranks fourth.

Most of that production has come over the past few weeks. Following a slow start to his big league career in which he hit .208 through his first 23 games, Kurtz has batted .320 with seven homers and 15 RBIs in his last 13 games. Of his last 15 hits, 10 have gone for extra bases.

“Right now, it’s one of those times in baseball where it’s going good,” Kurtz said. “I’m just trying to keep this streak going as long as possible and keep trying to see the ball well.”

It truly has been a quick rise for Kurtz. Around this time last year, he was anxiously awaiting to find out when he might hear his name called in the MLB Draft. Now, he has reached the point that he has earned the opportunity to remain in the lineup on an everyday basis, even against a tough lefty like Valdez.

“He’s unbelievable,” said A’s starter Luis Severino, who took the loss after allowing just two runs on nine hits and one walk with five strikeouts across five innings. “He’s a monster out there. He plays a great first base, and he can swing the bat. Having him back in the lineup is huge for us.”