Nick Kurtz Named Unanimous 2025 AL Rookie of the Year

Nick Kurtz’s rise in the 2025 MLB season is the kind of story baseball fans love. He started the year facing setbacks, missing the Oakland A’s Opening Day roster, and wrestling through a tough start.

But Kurtz didn’t stay down for long. After those early struggles, he erupted and turned his rookie campaign into one of the most dominant debuts in recent memory.

By season’s end, Kurtz wasn’t just a standout—he swept the American League Rookie of the Year vote. He snagged a Silver Slugger Award and suddenly found his name in conversations with some of the best rookie seasons ever.

From Off the Roster to Rookie of the Year Glory

Kurtz’s journey shows that grit and talent really can flip the script. He began the season without a roster spot and didn’t hit his first home run until his 17th game.

That might have seemed like the start of an average rookie year. But as the weeks rolled on, the 22-year-old first baseman found his groove and never let up.

A Statistical Masterclass

By the end of the season, Kurtz posted numbers that felt almost unreal for a rookie. He hammered 36 home runs, stacked up 122 hits, and drove in 86 RBIs.

He finished with a 1.002 OPS and an impressive 5.4 bWAR in just 117 games. Advanced stats backed it up—he sat in the 98th percentile for bat speed and barrel rate, and his walk rate landed in the 90th percentile.

Everything changed for him on July 25. That day, Kurtz exploded for six hits and four home runs in a single game.

Pitchers started to approach him differently after that. He responded by showing more patience at the plate, and his walk rate shot up to 16.1 percent.

Respect from Peers and Coaches

Former Angels manager Ray Montgomery called Kurtz “the biggest leadoff guy I’ve ever seen.” That combination of raw power and a disciplined approach at the plate has scouts and rivals buzzing.

The Rookie of the Year Race

Kurtz ran away with the Rookie of the Year voting. Even so, his Oakland teammate Jacob Wilson finished second, and Boston’s Roman Anthony took third.

Oakland’s got some serious young talent, even if the team’s future feels a little up in the air right now.

The Bigger Picture for Oakland

Kurtz’s breakout means a lot for the Athletics. Still, there’s a catch: since he missed the Opening Day roster, his Rookie of the Year win gives him a full year of service time but costs the A’s a shot at extra draft pick compensation.

That stings for a rebuilding team, since every draft pick counts these days.

Elite Company Among Baseball Legends

Kurtz’s rookie year puts him in rare company with modern stars like Mike Trout, Aaron Judge, and Albert Pujols. Those guys became franchise cornerstones—and honestly, Kurtz looks like he’s on that same path.

Key Takeaways from Kurtz’s Breakout Season

• Explosive power: Smashing 36 home runs in 117 games is just wild.
• Plate discipline: That 16.1 percent walk rate in the second half? That’s a mature hitter.
• Advanced metrics: Top-tier bat speed and barrel rate prove he’s the real deal.
• Big-game performance: That six-hit, four-homer game changed everything for his season.

Looking Ahead

The 2025 season was just Kurtz’s introduction to the big leagues. The future looks promising for Oakland’s rising star.

If he builds on his rookie-year dominance, Kurtz could become a franchise cornerstone. Some even think he might turn into one of MLB’s marquee names in the next decade.

Right now, Oakland fans get to enjoy the arrival of a player with a rare mix of power, patience, and poise. He’s become a symbol of hope for a team in transition.

If his debut season tells us anything, the Nick Kurtz era is only getting started.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Athletics slugger Nick Kurtz wins AL Rookie of the Year unanimously