In a season full of explosive moments, Nick Kurtz still managed to create a strange feeling: he didn’t need a single moment to define himself. What made people stop and look at Kurtz wasn’t the 493-foot grand slam in Sacramento, or even the four home runs in Houston in July. It was the whole—a long string of moments that forced MLB to place him in a very small group.
Only three players finished the season with an OPS above 1,000. The other two were Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani—two MVPs, two icons of modern baseball. And then there was Nick Kurtz.
A new name, but in a very familiar position.
After being called up at the end of April, Kurtz played as if he’d been there all along. 36 home runs, slash line .290/.383/.—numbers that were enough to overshadow the fact that he only played 117 games. 86 RBI, a walk rate close to 13%, a high but acceptable strikeout rate given the pure power he brings. And remember: a year before, Kurtz was playing college pitching.
The 2025 AL Rookie of the Year award isn’t a “controversial” title. It’s almost a given.
But the question now isn’t “Is Kurtz good?” but rather: in what direction will he evolve?
Entering the new season, pitchers certainly won’t approach Kurtz the same way as before. Scouting reports will be thicker, more detailed, and less lenient. There will be more breaking balls, more early swing attempts. And that’s when the real test begins.
Conversely, Kurtz also has clear areas for improvement. He struggles against left-handed pitchers, only hitting .197 with a wRC+ 83. That’s not a death sentence—it’s an area for growth. At 22 years old, transitioning to 23, adjusting to avoid being “locked down” by the left wing is entirely within his reach.
The predictions are more cautious than fans’ expectations. Depth Charts puts Kurtz at .261/.352, 36 home runs, 99 RBI, wRC+ 137—37% higher than the league average. It sounds less impressive than his rookie season, but that’s the system’s way of saying he’s now considered a stable star, no longer an unknown quantity.
And when comparing the league’s first baseman rankings, the picture becomes even more interesting. Only Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is predicted higher than Kurtz. Behind him are legends like Freddie Freeman and Bryce Harper—names who have shared the same peak for over a decade. Kurtz stands alongside them… at just 22 years old.
This puts Athletics in a very unique position. If Kurtz simply replicates last season—without needing to be more explosive—A’s already has a pillar strong enough to dream of a postseason. But if he truly begins building his own track record, if the 2025 season isn’t the peak but the foundation, then current predictions will quickly become outdated.
The only remaining question is: Will Nick Kurtz accept being close to Judge and Ohtani… or is he quietly preparing to stand alongside them long-term?
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