BASH TO THE FUTURE

The Athletics never wavered in their conviction when scouting Nick Kurtz. Now, he stands at the center of the club's ascending position core.

- by JESUS CANO

They were the four swings heard round the baseball world. Yet for Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz, that July night when he became the first rookie—and one of just 21 players ever-to slug four home runs in one game still feels like a blur.

To the A's organization, it was something else entirely. The first glint of a long-awaited light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. A moment that briefly dulled the pain of the fire sales, empty seats or the heartbreaking move to Sacramento ahead of a planned relocation to Las Vegas.

For the A's fans who endured the chaos and stayed when others walked away, it offered something rare: hope. Hope to keep following, to keep caring, even when the times are tough.

As the A's embark on a new chapter, they do so with a new foundation. At its center is Kurtz, the Baseball America Rookie of the Year.

More than just a cornerstone of transition, he is rapidly becoming one of the game's most formidable young sluggers. For A's fans who have waited so long, Kurtz represents the promise of a future that finally feels bright.

"He's been a revelation," said A's assistant GM Billy Owens. “He was No. 1 on our (draft) board. The numbers were overwhelming, and the picturesque swing was amazing. I made sure, right after the draft, that it was on record in multiple interviews: Nick Kurtz was No. 1 on our board going into that season.”

Kurtz authored one of the most dominant rookie seasons the game has ever seen. He slashed .291/.384/.613 with 33 home runs in 111 games. He led all rookies in homers. Ditto his 81 RBIs and 83 runs. His .998 OPS ranks seventh-highest in history for a rookie with at least 450 plate appearances. His 168 wRC+ ranks fourth.