Nick Kurtz Makes MLB History with 4 Home Runs as a Rookie
Date: July 25, 2025
Venue: Daikin Park, Houston — Oakland Athletics defeat Houston Astros 15–3
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🔥 Historic Performance
Nick Kurtz, aged 22 and the A’s designated hitter, became the first rookie in MLB history to hit four home runs in a single game .
He went 6-for-6, scored six runs, recorded eight RBIs, and tied the MLB single-game record with 19 total bases — matching Shawn Green (2002) .
Kurtz's long balls came in the 2nd, 6th, 8th, and 9th innings, off four different Houston pitchers—including an opposite-field three-run shot off position player Cooper Hummel in the ninth .
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📊 Season Context & Record-Breaking Stats
23 HRs in just 66 MLB games — fastest pace in league history for rookies .
59 RBIs and 43 extra-base hits, leading all rookies .
Batting line: .305 AVG, .374 OBP, .686 SLG — resulting in a 1.060 OPS, ranking among the top in MLB if qualified .
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🧠 Why It Matters
Kurtz is the youngest ever to hit four home runs in a game and the only rookie to do so .
He's the 20th player in MLB history to join the four-home-run club, and just the second (after Shawn Green) to also compile six hits and 19 total bases in one game .
Manager Mark Kotsay called it “arguably the best game I've ever watched from a single player” .
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⚠️ Astros’ Breakdown
Starter Ryan Gusto was tagged for eight runs in 3 ⅓ innings.
Former reliever Jeffrey Springs surrendered two runs over six innings.
Defensive miscues—misplayed popups, errant throws—compounded Houston’s woes, while limited depth forced a position player to pitch the ninth inning .
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🎯 Awards Watch & Legacy
Kurtz is now a clear frontrunner for AL Rookie of the Year, with odds plunging to –2000 after Friday’s performance .
The performance cements his place in Athletics history and put him on the radar as one of the most promising young sluggers in modern MLB.
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🔍 Quick Breakdown Table
Category Stat / Fact
Game Line 6-for-6, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 6 runs, 19 TB
Season Totals 23 HR, 59 RBI, 43 XBH in 66 G
Batting Line .305/.374/.686 (1.060 OPS)
Rookie Record First rookie ever with 4 HR game
League Ranking #2 OPS in MLB (if qualified)
Notable Pitchers Faced Ryan Gusto, Cooper Hummel, others
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📣 Final Thoughts
Nick Kurtz's explosive night made history—not just for the Athletics, but for MLB. His combination of power, speed, and consistency marks a career-altering milestone. In what was already shaping up to be a remarkable rookie campaign, Kurtz delivered a legendary performance worthy of national attention.
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