A's Rookie of the Year Kurtz Heating Up Just in Time for Opening Day

After a slow start, the 23-year-old first baseman is finding his groove at the plate in spring training.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 4:35pm

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Nick Kurtz, the reigning American League Rookie of the Year, is starting to heat up at the plate just in time for the start of the 2026 MLB season. After a slow start to spring training, Kurtz has been on a tear over the past week, going 6-for-21 with three home runs and two doubles. A's manager Mark Kotsay believes it takes bigger players like the 6-foot-5, 240-pound Kurtz more time to sync up their mechanics and timing at the plate, which is why he often starts slowly before finding his groove. Kurtz has embraced this idea and is feeling confident as he prepares for his first full season in the big leagues.

Why it matters

Kurtz burst onto the scene last season, putting together one of the most impressive rookie campaigns in recent memory. As the heart of the A's potent offense, his continued development and ability to get off to a strong start will be crucial to the team's playoff aspirations this year. The A's are already leading the league in home runs and runs scored this spring, and Kurtz's hot streak has them feeling confident about their chances.

The details

Over the past seven games, Kurtz has hit .286 with three home runs and two doubles. All three of his homers have gone the opposite way to left or left-center field, a sign that he is swinging the bat well. Last season, Kurtz led the majors with 18 opposite-field home runs. A's manager Mark Kotsay believes it takes bigger players like Kurtz more time to sync up their mechanics and timing at the plate, which is why he often starts slowly before finding his groove. Kurtz has embraced this idea and is feeling confident as he prepares for his first full season in the big leagues.

  • Over the past seven games, Kurtz has been 6-for-21 (.286) with three home runs and two doubles.
  • Kurtz went homerless until his 17th game with the A's last season before going on a tear.

The players

Nick Kurtz

A 23-year-old first baseman and the reigning American League Rookie of the Year. Kurtz is a 6-foot-5, 240-pound slugger who is expected to be the heart of the A's potent offense this season.

Mark Kotsay

The manager of the Oakland Athletics. Kotsay believes it takes bigger players like Kurtz more time to sync up their mechanics and timing at the plate, which is why he often starts slowly before finding his groove.

Darren Bush

The A's director of hitting. Bush, along with Kotsay, discussed with Kurtz the idea that it takes bigger players more time to get their mechanics and timing right at the plate.

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What they’re saying

“A lot of times, bigger players in size and frame, it takes a while for their mechanics and their timing at the plate to come together.”

— Mark Kotsay, Manager

“The more they say it, the more I'm starting to feel pretty good now and it makes a bunch of sense. Early on, the hits weren't coming, but I was hitting the ball pretty hard and seeing good pitches. It just didn't feel totally right. The last few days, it's been feeling a lot better.”

— Nick Kurtz

“When I'm doing that, that's kind of my cue. I've hit a couple of homers now that way and had a single [to left] the other day. That's when I know things are getting close. I never say 'I've found it' or 'It's here,' because I think that's just bad karma. But it means we're closer, and that's a good thing.”

— Nick Kurtz

What’s next

The A's will continue to monitor Kurtz's progress throughout the remainder of spring training as he prepares for his first full season in the big leagues. The team is hoping Kurtz can build on his impressive rookie campaign and anchor their potent offense as they aim to make a playoff push.

The takeaway

Kurtz's slow start to spring training is not uncommon for bigger players, as it can take them more time to sync up their mechanics and timing at the plate. However, the reigning Rookie of the Year has started to heat up at just the right time, providing a boost of confidence for an A's team that is already leading the league in home runs and runs scored this spring. Kurtz's continued development will be crucial to the team's success this season.