Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz was a first-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. He did not spend much time in the minor leagues but made a major impact in his rookie season.
In 93 games this season for the Athletics, he has a .309 batting average with 27 home runs and 70 RBIs, along with two stolen bases and one caught stolen base. His on-base percentage is .401. What are the odds that Kurt will be the rookie of the year in the American League?
Yahoo Sports writer believes that the Athletics' first baseman Nick Kurtz is on his way to win AL Rookie of the Year
Russell Dorsey of Yahoo Sports wrote about the potential candidates who could win the American League Rookie of the Year award. He mentioned outfielder Roman Anthony on the Boston Red Sox, but Dorsey feels like Kurtz is a far more impressive candidate to win it. Dorsey said,
"It’s not often that a player becomes his team’s best hitter less than a year after being drafted, but that’s exactly what Nick Kurtz has done. After flying through the Athletics’ farm system, the 2024 first-round draft pick made his way onto the big-league roster in April and burst onto the scene. Kurtz really made his presence known with a four-homer game against the Houston Astros in July, but even before then, the A’s first baseman was slugging his way into the Rookie of the Year race.
Kurtz's power stands out, with his homers routinely going a country mile. But even as a young player, he has shown an aptitude for hitting at a high level. Since the All-Star break, Kurtz has a ridiculous .390/.500/.764 slash line with 10 homers, and his 1.264 OPS is an MLB-best over that stretch. Kurtz is also leading rookies in almost every offensive category this season, including OPS, homers, RBI, runs scored, walks and slugging percentage.
The A’s as a whole have disappointed this season, but in a year of strong rookie performances, Kurtz has easily been baseball’s best. And he has shown he’ll be a force in the middle of the A’s lineup for years to come."
Kurtz is only 22 years old and has a bright, impressive future ahead of him. There is a chance that the Athletics could be a playoff team in the American League with the young talent they finally have on the roster. It would be a significant surprise if Kurtz did not win the AL Rookie of the Year award.
He may finish with 30-35 home runs and somewhere between 80-90 RBIs once the season ends. Kurtz is the overwhelming favorite to win the award and will be a star in this league for years.