Nick Kurtz

Nick Kurtz, the 23-year-old Athletics first baseman and 2025 AL Rookie of the Year, is experiencing a unique 2026 season marked by an early power outage followed by a strong recovery. After a slow start (1-for-21 in first 6 games), Kurtz has rebounded impressively over his last 31 games, batting .296 with elite plate discipline. His most notable achievement is an MLB-leading 33-game on-base streak (as of May 9), which ties the second-longest single-season streak in Athletics history since 2000. While his power numbers have declined significantly from 2025 (7 HRs in 194 PA vs. 36 HRs in 2025), his process metrics remain elite with top-5 exit velocities, exceptional walk rate (22.2% BB%), and improved line drive percentage (23.2%). Recent performance shows 2-for-4 games with multiple hits, doubles, triples, and stolen bases, demonstrating consistent productivity despite the homer drought.