Elephant Rumblings: Nick Kurtz promoted to Double-A

MLB news roundup

Good morning Athletics Nation!

We learned yesterday afternoon that the club would be promoting top prospect Nick Kurtz all the way to Double-A, courtesy of Martin Gallegos:

It’s an aggressive promotion for the #4 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. The Wake Forrest product has looked otherworldly in seven games for the Stockton Ports, hitting .400 with four home runs and an impressive 10-to-7 BB/K ratio. Those are video game numbers and he stunningly already has nothing left to prove at Low-A and will skip High-A all together.

It’s good that the club wants to challenge the 21-year old. He’ll now be joining the Rockhounds this evening, just over a month after being drafted. He’s on the fast track to the big leagues but he’ll likely stay at Double-A the rest of the year. Minor league season is almost over so there’s not much time left but he’ll get his feet wet against some better competition before the offseason begins. At this rate there could be a chance that we see Kurtz as soon as next summer, joining young stud Jacob Wilson as recent first rounders to make the team so quickly after being drafted.

This bodes well for the organization but not as much for Tyler Soderstrom. The former top prospect is blocked at his drafted position of catcher by Shea Langeliers and moved to first base to find his way into the lineup. It hasn’t been a smooth transition to the major leagues for Soderstrom to this point ans he’s struggled to adjust to major league pitching and he remains on the IL with the wrist injury. With Kurtz seemingly on the fast track to the major leagues Soderstrom would serve himself well to come back from injury with some urgency to start living up to his draft pedigree.

Have an excellent Tuesday everyone!

A’s Coverage:

• A’s take down Rays 3-0
• Nick Kurtz earns swift promotion to Double-A
• Miguel Andujar’s Players Weekend Spikes Had a Farewell Message to the Coliseum
• VIDEO: JJ Bleday details A’s aggressive mentality early in games
• How Matt Chapman, Mark Canha memorialized their final games at the Coliseum
• Oakland Ballers in Playoff Position entering huge series

MLB News & Interest:

• Austin Riley fractured wrist, out 6-8 weeks
• Justin Verlander to return Wednesday; Luis Garcia done for ‘24
• Dodgers activate Max Muncy, Tommy Edman
• Giants’ Bailey scratched; Estrada returns to lineup
• Ketel Marte hits IL with ankle sprain
• Marlins promote Connor Norby
• Pirates place Ke’Bryan Hayes on IL
• Jacob deGrom to begin rehab assignment
• Power Rankings: New Number One
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Sign him up!

Cool little tidbit:

Shuemann getting a team honor:

Love to see it: