At Hohokam Stadium, under the Arizona sun and the echoing sound of bats hitting the ball, there was something quite… paradoxical.
The 6-foot-5 player who stood out the most in the locker room was the one least interested in attention.
Nick Kurtz – the new AL Rookie of the Year – entered his second season not with the air of a star, but like a 22-year-old who had just “done his job.”
36 home runs.
0.290 batting average.
1,002 OPS.
And a historic moment: 4 home runs in a game against Houston.
He became the eighth rookie since 1901 to achieve an OPS above 1,000 with at least 400 plate appearances. Those numbers usually generate a wave of marketing, talk shows, and dense highlight reels.
But Kurtz? He went back to North Carolina that winter, played video games, watched movies, and trained as if he’d never won a title.
“Am I embracing the spotlight? Not so much.”
That statement isn’t empty humility. It accurately reflects how he operates.
Head coach Mark Kotsay describes Kurtz as exactly how he was at 13: entering the clubhouse as someone who “feels lucky to be here.” No change. No ostentation. No superstar “vibe.”
That’s both admirable… and questionable.
Baseball doesn’t usually compromise with Year 2s. “Sophomore slump” isn’t legendary. Pitchers have more data. Scouting reports are thicker. Every weakness is scrutinized under a microscope.
And here’s the interesting detail: Kurtz hasn’t changed much.
“I’m not a big changing guy. If it worked last year, let’s do it again this year.”
That philosophy sounds simple. But MLB isn’t a place where standing still is safe.
There’s a notable tactical move: Kotsay is considering putting Kurtz on the lead-off to maximize his swing count. Placing a 36 HR slugger on the lead-off is a bold choice. It makes him the heartbeat of the lineup – the one who initiates the pressure from the first pitch.
If successful, this is an evolution.
If not, the spotlight won’t be as “pleasant” as it was during his rookie years.
In the clubhouse, teammates like Zack Gelof joke that watching Kurtz practice is “frustrating” because he can’t hit opposite field that far. It’s the kind of playful envy that only truly talented players can generate.
But the bigger story lies in the future.
The Oakland Athletics are preparing for their move to Las Vegas in 2028. They need a face. A long-term foundation. Kurtz – with a controlling contract for many years ahead – could be the nucleus of that era.
He said, “My plan is to be here for as long as I can.”
No bombastic pronouncements. No World Series promises. Just a commitment to consistency.
Kurtz’s composure is his greatest weapon. He learned quickly that you can’t get stuck on results – just focus on the process. That’s a lesson many players take a decade to learn.
But MLB will challenge that philosophy.
Last year, everything was new.
This year, everything is expected.
A’s finished 76-86 and believe they can compete with AL West. For that to happen, they need Kurtz not just to repeat – but to evolve.
The question is:
Is Kurtz’s “unchanging” a sign of unwavering character?
Or a risky gamble in a league that adapts faster than you think?
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