On Friday at Daikin Park, Kurtz made MLB history by becoming the first rookie ever to hit four home runs in a single game during the Athletics’ dominant 15-3 victory over the Houston Astros. He is just the 20th player in MLB history to accomplish this feat. Kurtz began his night with a single in the first inning, followed by a two-run homer in the second, a run-scoring double in the fourth, and solo home runs in both the sixth and eighth innings. In the ninth, needing a triple for the cycle, he instead blasted his fourth home run of the night. With 19 total bases, Kurtz tied Shawn Green’s single-game mark set on May 23, 2002.
Kurtz’s rise has been swift. In his brief minor league stint, he hit .368 with four home runs, 13 RBIs, and a 1.283 OPS over 12 games before a hamstring injury cut his season short. He showed excellent plate discipline with 12 walks against just 10 strikeouts and posted a .520 on-base percentage. Seven of his 14 hits went for extra bases, and he slugged .763.
Born March 12, 2003, in Lancaster, PA, Kurtz bats and throws left-handed. In college and minor league play, he maintained strong numbers, demonstrating power and consistency at the plate. With his historic performance as a rookie, Kurtz is establishing himself as one of the most exciting young talents in baseball and a key player for the Athletics moving forward.