Nick Kurtz is Polished, Powerful, and Pretty Much MLB-Ready
A Blog By Robbie
MLB Pipeline’s No. 35-ranked prospect is so dominant that the Athletics were forced to move Brent Rooker to the outfield in anticipation of his arrival. Nick Kurtz, who primarily plays first base, has been lighting up the minors, and his call to the big leagues is just around the corner. The 22-year-old attended Wake Forest University and landed at No. 4 overall in the 2024 MLB Draft after leading all Division 1 hitters in walks while slugging .763. In his two seasons at school, he also combined for 39 moonshots, which bolstered his case for a top-5 pick. At 6’5, 240 pounds, he’s built like an absolute freight train, and you better believe he can channel that frame and turn it into elite, plus-plus power from the left side of the plate. Boasting a slashline of .344/.386/.766 with a 1.152 OPS, including a MiLB-leading 7 home runs through 15 games in Triple-A Las Vegas, Kurtz is proving that he’s ready to slug at the big league level. If those video-game-like numbers don’t excite you…I’m not sure what will. Here’s why Nick Kurtz is poised to be the next big prospect to make a major impact in 2025.
The Most Dangerous Bat in the Minor Leagues
After Kurtz signed for $7 million, he did not waste a second of time showcasing his double-plus raw power and elite plate discipline, Double-A and Triple-A, topped off with a 1.283 OPS in 2024. The advanced approach, showcased by his 1.20 BB/K ratio and a remarkable 72 walks to 42 strikeouts, is so elite that it can be directly translated to the bigs. To add, he sported a 230 wRC+ paired with a 91% in-zone contact rate and a 61% hard-hit rate with a 110.5 max EV… stats that I can’t even put up in MLB The Show. These numbers underscore his ability to perform as an all-around hitter, not just a Schwarber-type player who will either hit nukes or strike out. Kurtz already seems like a polished hitter with elite plus power, exceptional swing decisions, and the ability to spray the ball to all fields. At this point, he sees pitches like beach balls and swings with intensity, signs that he has significant potential to be the first 2024 draftee to debut in the majors this year.
Scout the Staline (StS) projects Nick Kurtz with a 60-grade power and a comp to the legendary St. Louis Cardinal, Jim Edmonds, a player that can hit for power and average while displaying a high SLG and ISO. StS also forecasts more power to be unlocked in 2025, projecting him to go yard a whopping 30 times. Their Peak Projections also highlight an above-average 0.314 BABIP, once again showing off his ability to put balls in play at a great clip.
Why Nick Kurtz Should Be On Your DFS Radar
✅ Explosive Power: Kurtz has game-changing power, as he has hit 11 homers and nine doubles, including a 419-foot blast with an EV of 106 mph. He has hit nine balls 105+ mph so far this year, and six have left the yard. It’s also important to mention that the Athletics are playing their home games at the hitter-friendly confines of Sutter Health Park, which further solidifies his case for the promotion.
✅ Advanced Approach: His approach is nothing short of major-league-ready, as he is able to hit for power off both righties and lefties. He also crushes both velocity and spin, handling fastballs and breaking balls effectively.
✅ Underrated Defensive Skills/Athleticism: Despite looking like a freight train, he is a solid defender at first base with upside, noted by his smooth footwork and an ability to move effectively around the bag.
The Path to Sacramento
As hinted at previously, the Athletics are already preparing for the arrival of their elite prospect. Despite a crowded 1B/DH situation with Brent Rooker and Tyler Soderstrom in the mix, they have already paved a more straightforward path for Kurtz as they’ve shifted Rooker to the outfield, clearing up that DH role. It is important to note that Seth Brown is struggling badly, hitting a measly .176 in the 1B/DH role, making him a potential DFA or trade candidate, a transaction that would directly benefit Kurtz. Simply put, the A’s are in rebuild mode… which means they’re not going to hold back their most MLB-ready prospect for much longer.