After years of rebuilding, the Oakland A’s suddenly have something to show for it. They have two finalists for the American League Rookie of the Year award. First baseman Nick Kurtz and shortstop Jacob Wilson joined Boston outfielder Roman Anthony on the finalist list, announced by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
It’s a sign that Oakland’s young lineup is starting to come together quickly.
Kurtz carries the headliner case.
He hit.290/.383/.619 with 36 homers and a 1.002 OPS over 489 plate appearances, good for a 170 wRC+ and 4.6 WAR, and he even logged a historic four-homer game in July. That’s middle-order thunder with real zone control (12.9% BB, 30.9% K) and impact all summer.
Wilson’s argument is different but complementary.
He hit.311/.355/.444 with 13 homers, posted a 121 wRC+, and finished at 3.5 WAR while holding down shortstop—contact skills and steadiness that stabilized the infield right away
Rookie of the Year voting uses three slots worth 5, 3, and 1 points. That setup can lead to close finishes, especially if teammates split the second-place votes. If Roman Anthony grabs a lot of first-place votes out East, things tighten. But if Kurtz wins most of the top votes and Wilson shows up on plenty of ballots in third, Oakland can still come away with a trophy — and at minimum, two rookies validated as impact players.
The winner will be announced Nov. 10 on the MLB Network.
This isn’t just about a trophy.
Having two finalists shows the player development is working again and gives the front office permission to move faster this winter. It also clarifies jobs right now. Kurtz can settle in at first base (and DH when needed) as a middle-order bat. Wilson can hold shortstop while the team sorts second and third from inside options and low-risk signings. That makes the lineup cleaner and the offense easier to build.
There’s a rules angle, too. The current CBA rewards teams that promote ready prospects and let them play. Oakland’s result—two finalists from the same class—fits that shift: trust the bats, keep them up, and let performance set the pace.
The A’s still require frontline pitching and better run prevention behind their young infield. But Kurtz and Wilson reaching finalist status puts a timeline on the rebuild. Even if the award goes elsewhere, Oakland already gained something harder than hardware: two everyday rookies who proved they belong.