Nick Kurtz Shatters College Baseball Records: What the Wake Forest Star’s Historic Season Means for the 2025 MLB Draft

Nick Kurtz’s meteoric rise from Wake Forest star to the heart of the Oakland Athletics’ lineup took a temporary detour last week, but the power-hitting rookie is already eyeing an early-July return that could supercharge the A’s playoff push. A rookie season paused The 22-year-old first baseman was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to May 25 with a left hip flexor strain suffered while legging out a double against Philadelphia. Manager Mark Kotsay described the move as “precautionary” and said the club expects a “fairly short stint” on the IL, easing concerns that durability issues that hampered Kurtz in college and during a 2024 hamstring scare might resurface. Why the A’s can’t wait • Elite bat speed: Kurtz’s 92.4 mph average exit velocity ranks in the 92nd percentile among MLB rookies (min. 75 PA). • Clutch gene: Four of his first six big-league homers either tied the game or put Oakland ahead, including back-to-back walk-offs on June 17 and 20. • Plate discipline: A 14.8 % walk rate mirrors the advanced approach that allowed him to skip High-A entirely and reach MLB only 283 days after being drafted fourth overall in 2024. Numbers tell the story Before the hip tweak, Kurtz was slashing .276/.368/.526 with seven homers and a 147 wRC+ through 29 games—production that already tops every A’s rookie since Matt Olson’s breakout eight years ago. Even with the brief absence, Steamer projects him for 22 homers and 2.8 WAR over just 108 games, numbers that would keep him squarely in the American League Rookie of the Year conversation. Roster ripple effects While Kurtz heals, utility slugger Logan Davidson and veteran Brent Rooker have formed a first-base/DH platoon. The arrangement buys Oakland time but doesn’t mask a glaring need for left-handed thump; the A’s rank 24th in MLB in OPS from that side of the plate. Expect Kurtz to reclaim everyday duties at first base, with occasional turns in left field—a plan Kotsay floated during spring camp to keep Tyler Soderstrom’s bat in the lineup. Fantasy spin Managers in redraft and dynasty formats should treat Kurtz as a buy-low target. Hip flexor strains rarely sap long-term power if managed correctly, and Oakland’s hitter-friendly Coliseum wind patterns in the summer months historically boost left-handed fly-ball distance by 3–4 ft. What’s next Kurtz began light running on June 27 and could start a brief Triple-A rehab assignment as soon as Tuesday. If all boxes are checked, he would be eligible to rejoin the A’s for the July 4 weekend series in Anaheim—just in time for the club’s toughest West Division stretch of the season. Bottom line Nick Kurtz’s detour appears short, his ceiling remains sky-high, and the Athletics—suddenly only two games out in the AL Wild Card race—are counting the days until their 6-foot-5 cornerstone returns to unleash more fireworks on Major League pitching.