WEST SACRAMENTO -- The Athletics are running out of vocabulary to describe Nick Kurtz's rookie season.
And after Kurtz’s latest jaw-dropping feat, that might just be a problem.
The slugging first baseman truly outdid himself in the eighth inning of Saturday’s 11-5 win over the Reds, crushing a titanic grand slam over the center-field batter’s eye at Sutter Health Park. The ball came off Kurtz’s bat at 114.6 mph and traveled a Statcast-projected 493 feet -- the longest home run hit in MLB in more than two years.
"I think we’re going to have to make up a new word for what he did to that ball,” A’s outfielder Lawrence Butler said. “That was insane.”
Kurtz salted away Saturday’s game -- and a series victory for his club -- with an eye-popping blast off Cincinnati reliever Scott Barlow, smashing a centrally located 91.9 mph fastball out of sight. Kurtz's blast was the longest homer by an A’s hitter under Statcast tracking (since 2015), the longest grand slam in that span and the longest homer in MLB since Shohei Ohtani (also 493 feet) on June 30, 2023, when he was with the Angels.
Suffice it to say, it was a homer that left everyone impressed.
A’s manager Mark Kotsay compared Kurtz’s power bat to a pair of famous sluggers who were in attendance for Saturday’s club Hall of Fame induction ceremony: Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire.
What makes Kurtz like those home run hitters of yesteryear? His 6-foot-5, 240-pound frame sure helps, as does his natural strength. But there’s more to it: Kotsay keeps photos on his phone that show how Kurtz generates force on his explosive swings.
"Once he hits the baseball, makes contact, it’s almost like he comes off the ground,” Kotsay said. “I think that’s what really has given Nick the power that he has.”
Kurtz’s grand slam was his 31st home run, two behind Canseco for the second most by an A’s rookie (McGwire leads with 49). His longest before Saturday was 447 feet (twice), a distance he easily surpassed with a clout in the direction of Sacramento International Airport that might have showed up on a few FAA radar screens.
Butler and A’s starter Luis Severino both expressed fear for their cars, parked behind center field where Kurtz’s missile landed. If it ever did come down.
"I’m going to go out there and hope there ain’t no ball in my windshield,” Butler said.
Even if Kurtz’s homer does result in an insurance claim or two, it’s hard to imagine anyone in green and gold would hold it against him.
Back in the dugout, Kurtz, Butler and several teammates congregated around a tablet to watch a replay of the historic home run.
With words to describe Kurtz’s special rookie campaign running out, all they could do was laugh.
"I really can’t speak any more about Nick,” Kotsay said. “I don’t know if there’s words that can describe that at-bat. He continues to just impress.”