Kurtz Named Al Rookie Of The Year After Breakout 2025 Season

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 17, 2025, 5:40 PM

kurtz named al rookie of the year after breakout 2025 season

Nick Kurtz is earning hardware for his impressive rookie campaign with the Athletics in West Sacramento. The 22-year-old domineering first baseman on Monday was named the American League Rookie of the Year for 2025 after clubbing 36 home runs with 86 RBI while batting .290/.383/.619. Kurtz won the award unanimously with 30 first-place votes, becoming the 14th player in AL history to do so. He also was recognized Nov. 7 as the best hitting first baseman in baseball when MLB managers and coaches voted him to the Silver Slugger Award for the position after leading AL first baseman in home runs and OPS... He was the first rookie to win a Silver Slugger since José Abreu in 2014.

His 36 homers this year were the second most in a season for an A’s rookie behind Mark McGwire’s 49 in 1987. His season was highlighted with one of the best single-game performances of all-time when he went 6-for-6 with 4 home runs in a 15-3 win over the Houston Astros July 25. He became the first rookie to ever hit four homers in a game and matched the Major League record with 19 total bases in one contest. Nick Kurtz was unanimously named American League Rookie of the Year by the BBWAA after what was a historic season in the green and gold. Kurtz becomes the ninth A’s player ever to win the award and the first Athletic since Andrew Bailey in 2009. Alongside Kurtz, Jacob Wilson came in 2nd with 107 votes.

That was ahead of Roman Anthony (BOS), Noah Cameron (KCR) and Colson Montgomery (CWS). Neither Denzel Clarke nor Jacob Lopez placed, but Luis Morales earned one vote from a local writer. He now joins the likes of Harry Byrd (1952), Jose Canseco (1986), Mark McGwire (1987), Walt Weiss (1988), Ben Grieve (1998), Bobby Crosby (2004), Huston Street (2005), and Andrew Bailey (2009) as A’s to... When Kurtz was called up ahead of his debut on April 23, he played just 32 games in the minor leagues since being drafted in 2024, and it took him just 283 days to... The “Big Amish” immediately found his groove and would go on to lead all rookies in home runs (36), RBIs (86), extra-base hits (64), runs (90), slugging percentage (.619) and OPS (1.002). According to MLB.com, Kurtz becomes “the eighth rookie since 1901 to post an OPS over 1.000 (min.

400 plate appearances) and first since Aaron Judge in 2017.” Star Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz won the 2025 AL Rookie of the Year award in a unanimous decision, MLB announced Monday. Nick Kurtz is your 2025 American League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year! pic.twitter.com/vzz0uIaidS With our All Access Daily newsletter, stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Kurtz, the ninth Rookie of the Year in Athletics franchise history and first since pitcher Andrew Bailey in 2009, beat out his A's teammate, shortstop Jacob Wilson, and Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony...

Kurtz, whom the Athletics selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, absolutely raked over his first 117 big-league games after being the sixth-fastest player to reach the majors in franchise history following his promotion from Triple-A Las... Although the MLB hot stove is already in full effect, we've still got a week of season awards to look forward to as we reminisce about the 2025 season. The week starts with the reveal of the AL and NL Rookie of the Year Awards on Monday, Nov. 10. The 2025 season was a tremendous year for rookies across Major League Baseball.

Between Jacob Wilson's incredible bat control, Nick Kurtz's historic power, Drake Baldwin's high-end bat as a catcher, and Cade Horton's tremendous work on the mound, the decision in both leagues was likely a very... In the end though, neither decision seemed all that difficult. Kurtz won the award unanimously for the American League, while Baldwin took home 21 of 30 possible first-place votes. Here's how Baldwin and Kurtz won, who the other finalists were and previous Rookie of the Year winners in both leagues: Despite strong cases for Cubs' starter Cade Horton and Brewers' infielder Caleb Durbin, the Braves' backstop earned the award after smashing an astounding 19 home runs with a .274 average and .810 OPS. Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz has won the American League Rookie of the Year award.

(Michaela Schumacher / MLB Photos via Getty Images) Nick Kurtz did not crack the A’s roster for opening day. He did not hit a home run until his 17th big league game, and didn’t connect on his second until nearly a month deep into his big league career. At the time, it looked like his teammate, shortstop Jacob Wilson, was the early heavy favorite for an award that wasn’t at all on Kurtz’s mind at the time. The young first baseman was just worried about proving he was worthy of a roster spot. On Monday — six months later — he was unanimously voted the American League’s Rookie of the Year, after completing one of the most impressive rookie seasons in baseball history.

He’d already earned the American League Silver Slugger award at first base the week prior. “I’ve always had that confidence in myself, that I’m able to do that — be the centerpiece of a lineup, and help that lineup score a bunch of runs,” Kurtz told The Athletic in... “I think having that confidence in yourself is huge in this game.” The 2025 Athletics season was far from normal. While the team finished 76-86 and well out of the playoff picture, there was a lot more hope with this team than in years past. A huge reason for said hope was the emergence of Nick Kurtz, a rookie slugging first baseman who took the Majors by storm.

He had one of the best rookie seasons in recent MLB history and helped paint a positive picture for the Athletics going forward. As Chris McCoskey of The Detroit News shared, Kurtz, after his incredible rookie year, was chosen by his fellow MLB players as the MLBPA American League Rookie of the Year. The 22-year-old nicknamed "Big Amish" had one of the better rookie years in recent MLB history. While he wasn't named an All-Star due to getting hot later in the year, Kurtz was one of the most electric hitters in baseball this season. Players Choice Award winners:Skubal -- AL pitcherCal Raleigh -- AL hitterNick Kurtz -- AL rookieJacob deGrom -- AL comeback playerPaul Skenes -- NL pitcherKyle Schwarber -- NL hitterDrake Baldwin -- NL rookieRonald Acuna, Jr. -- NL comeback player https://t.co/u5UEedyTDx

Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz was named 2025 American League Rookie of the Year on Monday after receiving all 30 first-place votes from members of the BBWAA. Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson finished second, while Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony came in third. It's the ninth time in MLB history that teammates finished first and second in Rookie of the Year voting. The 22-year-old Kurtz enjoyed an incredible rookie season, slashing .290/.383/.619 with 36 home runs, 26 doubles, 86 RBIs, and a 1.002 OPS across 117 games. He also led all MLB rookies in runs, homers, RBIs, walks, slugging, OPS, and fWAR. "It's a great ending to the first year," Kurtz told MLB Network.

Kurtz Named Al Rookie Of The Year After Breakout 2025 Season

People Also Search

Nick Kurtz Is Earning Hardware For His Impressive Rookie Campaign

His 36 Homers This Year Were The Second Most In

That Was Ahead Of Roman Anthony (BOS), Noah Cameron (KCR)

400 Plate Appearances) And First Since Aaron Judge In 2017.”

Kurtz, Whom The Athletics Selected With The No. 4 Overall