A Historic Achievement by Nick Kurtz
Nick Kurtz, a 22-year-old first baseman for the Oakland Athletics, has etched his name in Major League Baseball (MLB) history by becoming the first rookie to hit four home runs in a single game. His remarkable performance earned him the 2025 American League Rookie of the Year award, which he received unanimously.
Kurtz swept all 30 first-place votes in the American League “Rookie of the Year” voting announced by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) on the 11th. He accumulated a total of 210 points, securing the top spot without any competition. This achievement highlights not only his individual excellence but also the impact he made during his debut season.
A Strong Showing from Teammate Jacob Wilson
Kurtz’s teammate, shortstop Jacob Wilson, who is 23 years old, came in second place in the Rookie of the Year voting with 107 points. Wilson received 23 second-place votes, along with 4 third-place votes, 1 fourth-place vote, and 1 fifth-place vote. This marked the ninth time in history that teammates claimed the top two spots in the Rookie of the Year voting, showcasing the depth of talent within the Athletics organization.
Background and Performance
A graduate of Wake Forest University, Kurtz was selected fourth overall in the 2024 draft by the Athletics. He signed a contract worth $7 million, which is approximately 10.25 billion Korean won. As a rookie, he earned the minimum salary of $760,000, which is roughly 1.1 billion Korean won. Over the course of the season, Kurtz played 117 games as the team’s first baseman, batting .290 with 36 home runs and 86 RBIs. His impressive performance also included an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 1.002.
A Record-Breaking Game
One of the most notable moments of Kurtz’s season came on July 26 against the Houston Astros, when he went 6-for-6 with four home runs and 8 RBIs. In that game, he hit two solo homers, one two-run homer, and one three-run homer. This performance made him the first rookie in MLB history to hit four home runs in a single game. Prior to this, only 21 players had achieved the feat of hitting four home runs in one game. The most recent instance was Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies, who hit four home runs against the Atlanta Braves on August 29, over a month after Kurtz’s historic game.
National League Rookie of the Year
In the National League, the Rookie of the Year award went to Drake Baldwin, a 24-year-old catcher for the Atlanta Braves. Baldwin received 21 first-place votes and 9 second-place votes. Drafted 96th overall in the 2022 draft, Baldwin made his major league debut this year after progressing through the minor leagues. In 124 games, he batted .274 with 19 home runs and 80 RBIs. Additionally, he served as the starting catcher for the U.S. national team at the 2024 WBSC Premier12, where they placed third.