Report: Athletics calling up top prospect Kurtz after 32 MiLB games
The Athletics are calling up first baseman Nick Kurtz, the franchise's top prospect, from Triple-A Las Vegas, Martín Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Kurtz is ranked as the No. 32 prospect in all of baseball by Baseball America. He was drafted fourth overall by the A's last July after a stellar college career at Wake Forest. Kurtz played just 32 minor-league games before getting the call to West Sacramento.
The 22-year-old has been lighting up the Pacific Coast League during the early stages of this season. Kurtz hit .321/.385/.655 over 97 plate appearances with Las Vegas, while his seven homers and 24 RBIs are tops among all Triple-A players.
While he'll arrive in West Sacramento on Tuesday, Kurtz won't be activated or make his MLB debut until Wednesday's home game against the Texas Rangers, a source told ESPN's Alden González. This is in part because Texas is starting left-hander Patrick Corbin on Tuesday.
Once he does steps on the field, Kurtz will become the sixth-fastest player in A's history to reach the majors from the date he was drafted, according to Gallegos. The franchise record for fastest debut belongs to Mike Morgan, who pitched in his first game five days after being drafted by the A's out of high school in June 1978.
He'll also become the third player drafted in 2024 to reach the majors, joining Houston Astros outfielder Cam Smith and Los Angeles Angels reliever Ryan Johnson.
The timing of Kurtz's call-up is interesting given first baseman Tyler Soderstrom's breakout April and Brent Rooker's presence at designated hitter. Soderstrom entered Monday sitting tied for the major-league home-run lead with nine. Rooker, who signed a five-year, $60-million extension in January, is off to a slower start but has hit six home runs in his first 22 games.
Kurtz is strictly a first baseman defensively and, like Soderstrom, hits from the left side. He could potentially be eased into the majors as the left-handed half of a DH platoon with Rooker, who owns a .671 OPS versus right-handers this season compared to 1.098 against southpaws. Rooker, last year's AL Silver Slugger winner at DH, can also slide to a corner outfield spot if necessary.
The Athletics, playing their first season in a temporary facility outside Sacramento after 56 years representing Oakland, sit last in the AL West with a 10-12 record. However, they entered Monday just a half-game back of fourth-place Houston and three behind the first-place Rangers.