**WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif.** — In a remarkable moment for Major League Baseball, rookie Nick Kurtz made his initial appearance in the big league an unforgettable one. During his first time at the plate, Kurtz successfully connected for his maiden major league hit and RBI. In Wednesday night’s game, he faced a 1-2 pitch from Kumar Rocker and sent a single up the middle in the first inning, allowing Shea Langeliers to sprint home from second, pushing the Athletics to a 3-0 start against Texas. Cameras captured his father enthusiastically waving Langeliers to the plate.
Drafted as the fourth pick in last year’s amateur draft, Kurtz’s entrance into MLB was noteworthy not only for his batting but also for a bit of acrobatics—he tripped over the pitcher’s mound while attempting to catch a popup but managed to recover and continue playing. In his debut, Kurtz was placed seventh in the batting order and anchored the first base. Ultimately, he ended the night going 1-for-4 with one strikeout, contributing to the Athletics’ 5-2 victory.
Hailing from Wake Forest, Kurtz’s professional contract was accompanied by a $7 million signing bonus, and he received the call-up to the majors just before the game. He is the third draftee of 2024 to step onto the major league field, following Houston outfielder Cam Smith and Los Angeles Angels pitcher Ryan Johnson, who were already part of Opening Day rosters. Smith had been selected 14th overall, and Johnson was picked 74th.
Kurtz began the previous year playing in Class A with the Stockton team, advancing to Double-A Midland shortly after. His performance at Triple-A Las Vegas was impressive, hitting .321 with seven home runs, 24 RBIs, and drawing 10 walks in just 20 games this season. However, his momentum was halted in 2024 due to a hamstring issue, limiting his participation to 13 games in the Arizona Fall League.