The Athletics have promoted first baseman Nick Kurtz to the majors, the staff introduced Wednesday. He is hitting seventh towards the Rangers in his MLB debut.
Kurtz, 22, opened the season in Triple-A, the place he hit .321/.385/.655 with seven house runs in 20 video games. He was among the many Triple-A leaders in exit velocity, although he did battle with each making constant contact and performing as nicely towards left-handed pitchers.
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The A’s are including Kurtz to a lineup that features three different promising hitters youthful than 25: shortstop Jacob Wilson, outfielder Lawrence Butler, and fellow first baseman Tyler Soderstrom, one of many high home-run hitters within the majors this yr.
Kurtz was the No. 4 decide in final summer time’s draft by means of Wake Forest. CBS Sports activities ranked him because the No. 4 prospect within the class on the time, writing the next of his sport:
Kurtz recovered from an early droop and shoulder damage in an enormous method, delivering 14 house runs over a 10-game interval to usher in April. By season’s finish, he discovered himself main the NCAA in walks, each in charge and counting kinds, taking a free cross in 30% of his journeys to the plate. (For reference, Barry Bonds had a 32% stroll charge in 2002.) There is no denying Kurtz’s well-above-average energy or his self-discipline, and to his credit score he makes a strong charge of contact when he affords. There are, nonetheless, just a few elements working towards him. Some evaluators have questioned if his excessive selectiveness is a detriment that causes him to cross up hittable pitches; we’re inclined to assume it is simpler to show a hitter to ratchet up their aggressiveness than vice versa. The larger challenge, in our opinion, is that he is a collegiate first baseman. It’s a must to return to C.J. Cron in 2011 to discover a first-round a kind of who has since had an honest profession. We’re placing him right here regardless of our bearish emotions on the profile as a result of we suspect a staff — even perhaps the Athletics, who decide No.4 — will overlook disappointments like Spencer Torkelson, Andrew Vaughn, and Pavin Smith to make the leap.
Kurtz’s arrival was tipped by the Athletics’ sudden willingness to make use of Brent Rooker within the outfield. Rooker had beforehand not appeared within the outfield in practically a yr after struggling a forearm damage.
