The time has finally come
The Athletics are set to promote their top prospect as Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports that first baseman Nick Kurtz is set to get the call to The Show:
The A’s are calling up No. 1 prospect (MLB No. 35 prospect) Nick Kurtz, per source.
Kurtz has dominated Triple-A, hitting .321/.385/.655 and leading the Minors with seven homers. Drafted 4th overall in 2024, he will reach the big leagues after just 32 career Minor League games.
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) April 21, 2025
The left-handed slugging first baseman was drafted just nine months ago with the fourth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. After spending three seasons of tearing the cover off the ball for Wake Forest the 22-year old has continued to hit well upon joining the Athletics’ organization.
Last year in his first taste of professional baseball Kurtz played in just 12 games but forced his way from Single-A to Double-A with a massive showing at the plate by hitting four home runs in just seven games for Stockton. He kept it up for Midland for five games before a hamstring injury prematurely ended his first season in the organization. Still, the way he was hitting the ball had fans excited he could be on the fast-track to the big leagues.
This year Kurtz experienced his first spring camp with the club. A long-shot to break camp for Opening Day the lefty slugger instead reported right to Triple-A after just five games at Double-A. The club was ready to test him against tougher competition and he has not disappointed. In 20 games with the Aviators Kurtz is hitting an astounding .321/.385/.655 with 7 home runs and 24 RBI’s. He’s been as advertised on defense as well as he’s graded out as an above-average defender at first base, the only position he has ever played.
The Athletics have been aggressive with some of their top prospects in recent years. The team promoted shortstop Jacob Wilson after just two campaigns and 79 career minor league games, and Lawrence Butler played in 22 Triple-A contests before his first promotion to the Athletics. Having played just 32 career minor league games this certainly qualifies as an extremely aggressive promotion for Kurtz, especially since there isn’t any obvious position he could take over.
The club has yet to announce a corresponding roster move but it’s unlikely the team is promoting him to ride the bench. With Tyler Soderstrom leading baseball in home runs he’s a lock to continue getting playing time. Designated hitter Brent Rooker has had a bit of a slow start to the season but was just handed a huge extension a couple of months ago and still has six bombs on the year. Miguel Andujar is hitting .297 while playing just about everyday in left field. The club could shift right fielder Lawrence Butler to center, play Rooker in right, and send the struggling JJ Bleday to the bench but that’s a lot of moving parts. There has also been speculation that Soderstrom could slide across the diamond to third base but that seems unlikely especially mid-season. How the club fits Kurtz into the starting lineup going forward will be a story to watch.
Kurtz, who is generally ranked as baseball’s #35 ranked prospect, will now join the Athletics and hopefully provide a boost to the lineup. And because he’s spent the beginning of the season in Triple-A he won’t accrue a full year of service time, meaning the A’s will have team control of Kurtz through the 2031 season (unless he finishes in the top-two of AL Rookie of the Year voting).
Everything will work out how it’s supposed to. Welcome to The Show, Nick!