Key facts
- Nick Kurtz leads MLB with 64 walks this season.
- He has a .438 on-base percentage and 49 RBIs, leading the majors.
- Kurtz tied a 30-year-old club record by reaching base in 48 consecutive games.
- Manager Mark Kotsay described Kurtz as the most advanced hitter at his age.
- Kurtz was drafted fourth overall in June 2024 and quickly promoted to the majors.
Oakland Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz is drawing significant respect from opposing pitchers, leading the major leagues with 64 walks this season. This strategy of intentionally walking him, a tactic often reserved for elite sluggers, highlights Kurtz's advanced hitting ability at just 23 years old.
Kurtz's 64 walks are one more than he accumulated in 117 games last season, when he was the unanimous AL Rookie of the Year. He has also been intentionally walked eight times, placing him second in the league behind Houston's Yordan Alvarez. Despite pitchers' reluctance to give him hittable pitches, Kurtz still boasts 15 home runs this season and leads the majors with 49 RBIs and a .438 on-base percentage.
Impressively, Kurtz recently tied Mark McGwire's 30-year-old club record by reaching base in 48 consecutive games. Athletics manager Mark Kotsay lauded Kurtz, calling him the most advanced hitter at his age he has encountered, praising his plate discipline and pitch selection.
Kurtz's rapid ascent through the Athletics' system, drafted fourth overall in June 2024 and promoted to the majors the following year, has exceeded expectations. His performance has been a key showcase for the team as they prepare for a planned move to Las Vegas in 2028. Teammates like catcher Shea Langeliers have expressed awe at Kurtz's rare talent and maturity at such a young age.