Looking at this season, plenty of players exceeded expectations, but Nick Kurtz might’ve topped them all. The Athletics’ slugger went absolutely nuclear during his first year in the big leagues.
Kurtz made his debut in April, less than a year after getting drafted, and became a key piece for Oakland. He played in 117 games, hitting .290/.383/.619 with 36 home runs and 86 RBIs.
The breakout moment came in late July against Houston. Kurtz launched four home runs in a single game, joining just 20 other players in baseball history to accomplish that feat. Talk about announcing yourself to the league.
The awards keep piling up for Kurtz since the season ended. He’s already claimed the Sporting News’ AL Rookie of the Year and Baseball Digest’s AL Rookie of the Year.
Silver Slugger Recognition
Now he can add another trophy to the collection. On Friday, Kurtz was named an AL Silver Slugger Award winner, per Robert Murray.
That puts Kurtz in elite company among rookies who’ve won the award in their first season. Players like Aaron Judge, Mike Trout, and Ichiro Suzuki have pulled off this same accomplishment. Most recently, Jackson Merrill did it last season for San Diego.
The real test comes next year. Plenty of players who dominate as rookies hit some bumps in their sophomore campaigns. But with the power Kurtz showed and his advanced approach at the plate, he seems built to avoid that kind of regression.
What makes Kurtz’s season even more impressive is the timeline – going from draft pick to Silver Slugger winner in less than two years doesn’t happen often. The A’s have to be thrilled with what they’ve got in their young slugger.
