Nick Kurtz is aiming to build on his sensational AL Rookie of the Year award as he heads into his second season with the Oakland Athletics, but he's determined to stay grounded. Standing at an imposing 6-foot-5, Nick Kurtz might tower over many of his Athletics teammates, yet he prefers to blend in at his locker, nestled in the heart of the clubhouse. This unassuming approach is exactly how he likes it, even with the increased spotlight and attention he's receiving this spring as the reigning AL Rookie of the Year at the young age of 22. Kurtz stuck to his familiar offseason routine, heading back home to North Carolina to "chill," indulge in video games, and catch up on movies when he wasn't dedicated to his training regimen.
"First of all, I’m excited for Year 2. I kind of know what to expect and what it’s like to play in the big leagues," Kurtz shared on Sunday before his first Cactus League game against Cleveland. "Am I embracing the spotlight? Not so much. I’m a guy who likes to be out there, but obviously there’s a lot more eyes, a lot more expectations, which I’m all about. I use that as our team, we have higher expectations of ourselves and what we think that we can do, so it’s a good thing."
A's manager Mark Kotsay is considering placing Kurtz in the leadoff spot – where he batted on Sunday, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout in the team's 6-0 loss to the Guardians – a strategic move to maximize the slugger's opportunities at the plate. Kotsay noted that after such a remarkable 2025 season, Kurtz continues to approach his work with humility, always crediting his teammates for his success.
"The same way like he’s 13 years old, he’s never going to change," Kotsay remarked at Hohokam Stadium. "It’s awesome to watch him in the clubhouse, on the back field, he comes in the same way, the same guy, just feels blessed to be here, and I don’t think that’s ever going to change for him."
Last season, Kurtz posted an impressive .290 batting average, with 36 home runs, 86 RBIs, and an exceptional 1.002 OPS in 117 games. He achieved a remarkable feat, becoming the eighth rookie since 1901 to finish with an OPS exceeding 1.000 while accumulating at least 400 plate appearances. In July, he etched his name in the record books as the first major league rookie to hit four home runs in a single game, a performance that propelled the A's to a dominant 15-3 victory over the Houston Astros.
So, what's it like to witness his prowess day in and day out? "It’s extremely annoying, not fun, because I know whatever I do I can never hit it opposite field that far, so I would say annoying," joked locker mate Zack Gelof, a second baseman currently rehabbing from shoulder surgery. "Not as fun."
But here's where it gets interesting: The 22-year-old Kurtz is counting on the A's to carry their late-season momentum from last year's 76-86 finish and to get off to a quicker start this season, aiming to re-establish themselves as contenders in the AL West. He genuinely appreciates the young core of this team, many of whom are secured on long-term contracts, and he's eager to be a part of transforming the club into a winner before its planned relocation to Las Vegas for the start of the 2028 season.
"My plan is to be here for as long as I can," Kurtz stated. "I’ll be here for the next six years, minimum, so it’s really exciting to know that when we go to Vegas we have guys that we’ll be super familiar with and some of my best friends I’ve made for life, so it’s really fun."
Many of these very teammates were together on the island of Maui, Hawaii, for left fielder Tyler Soderstrom’s wedding in November when the AL Rookie of the Year award was announced. They celebrated Kurtz’s first major career milestone, a moment anticipated to be just the beginning of his promising future.
Still, the celebration was remarkably understated, fitting Kurtz's personality. "Not a whole lot, maybe a couple beers, just hanging out," he recalled.
Following his award, the left-handed hitter dedicated his winter to ensuring his body was strong and healthy for another full season in the major leagues, with the hope of reaching the playoffs this time. He began his hitting regimen later, in December, and intensified his weight training, but emphasized, "I’m not a big changing guy. If it worked last year let’s do it again this year."
Center fielder Denzel Clarke admires how the unassuming Kurtz conducts himself. Kurtz offered a polite greeting to Guardians catcher David Fry before stepping into the batter's box in the first inning and grounding out to third on four pitches.
"I don’t know how under the radar you can be at 6-5, but he’s just a very calm, very chill guy who’s going to go about his day-to-day life," Clarke observed. "Nothing too crazy, nothing too flashy, he’s just going to be him."
Selected as the No. 4 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 amateur draft out of Wake Forest, Kurtz impressed the A's with his maturity from the moment he arrived and made his debut last April. He will celebrate his 23rd birthday on March 12th.
And this is the part most people miss... "I think he learned it really quickly when he got to us, and he mentioned that," Kotsay explained. "He did go through a little bit of failure but he found his routines and his processes pretty quickly and recognized you can’t get caught in the results, you just get caught in your process, and I think for a young player to realize that as quickly as he did, it showed in the success that he had."
While Kurtz's humble demeanor is widely praised, some might wonder if a touch more outward confidence could further elevate his game. Do you believe that a player's personality off the field impacts their performance on it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
