Elephant Rumblings: Kurtz wins Player of the Week honors

MLB news roundup

Good morning everyone!

Yesterday morning it was announced that rookie first baseman Nick Kurtz had won the Player of the Week honors in the American League, winning the award for the second straight week that saw him make history in the batter’s box:

It’s only the second time that’s happened in Athletics history with the first happening all the way back in 1981 by Tony Armas. Kurtz hit an incredible .600 with five home runs. And we all saw what he did on Friday night in Houston, posting a 6-for-6 night with four home runs, only the 20th time that has ever happened. For context, there have been more perfect games thrown than four homer nights.

It wasn’t just that one historic evening that won him the award though. At this point the Weekly honors are likely going to be eclipsed by the AL Player of the Month award here in a couple days. Kurtz has been on fire at the plate all July and actually leads all of baseball in just about every offensive category:

And he’s only 22. The sky is the limit for this kid, who looks like he could be the next great Athletic first basemen like Matt Olson or Jason Giambi.

There was a time just a couple of weeks ago that everyone believed the Rookie of the Year race was essentially over, with shortstop Jacob Wilson on cruise control to win the award. Now it really does seem like a two-horse race with Kurtz making a lot of noise and Wilson slumping hard at the plate right now. This is looking like it could be a dogfight of a race but that’s an amazing thing for an organization to get to watch. You don’t often see one team have the #1 and #2 rookies in a single year. It’s only happened eight times in the history of baseball, with the last time coming just a few years ago in Atlanta when Michael Harris II and Spencer Strider finished 1-2 in 2022.

And from the looks of the team store, Kurtz is really starting to pick up more support from the fanbase as he continues to crush the ball and deliver highlights seemingly on a nightly basis:

We should be seeing him get more and more recognition as he continues to cement himself among the game’s best hitters. And we have a front row seat to seeing how far he can go. Lucky us.

Have a good Tuesday, AN!

A’s Coverage

• A’s Drop Series Opener to Mariners 3-1
• The origin story of the ‘Big Amish’ nickname
• Gage Jump Takes Huge Strides In First Pro Season
• Dodgers Could Make Surprise Blockbuster Trade for All-Star closer Mason Miller
• Trade Deadline Coming: Blogfather’s (Almost Certainly Wrong) Predictions
• Kurtz’s bat bound for Cooperstown after historic four-homer night

MLB News & Interest:

• Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg passes away
• Brewers acquire Danny Jansen in trade with Rays
• Rays in discussions to acquire catcher Nick Fortes from Marlins
• Commissioner Rob Manfred confronted by Bryce Harper in heated meeting
• George Springer leaves game after HBP to head
• Sonny Gray unlikely to waive no-trade clause
• Braves acquire Carlos Carrasco from Yankees
• Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase placed on administrative leave following gambling investigation
• Padres’ Dylan Cease hit in head by 1-hopper, stays in game
• Third baseman Eugenio Suarez HBP on hand, X-rays negative
• Mets, Dodgers, Yankees interested in Harrison Bader
• Rosenthal: What I’m hearing about the Guardians, plus more notes
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

First time with the media:

Could Arnold also be a fast riser through the system?

A few organizational updates down on the farm:

And some signings as well: