Lancaster Native Wins Al Rookie Of The Year Unanimously Msn

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 17, 2025, 5:37 PM

lancaster native wins al rookie of the year unanimously msn

Lancaster County native and former Manheim Township baseball standout Nick Kurtz was voted Major League Baseball's American League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Nick Kurtz is your 2025 American League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year! pic.twitter.com/vzz0uIaidS Kurtz, nicknamed "Big Amish," was a unanimous decision after hitting .290 with 36 home runs, 86 RBIs, and 90 runs scored in 117 games. After being selected No. 4 overall by the A's in the 2024 draft, Kurtz made his MLB debut on April 23 after just 33 minor league appearances.

Kurtz became the first rookie in MLB history to record four home runs in a single game against the Houston Astros on July 25. 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.” 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.” Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz added another trophy to his quickly growing case Monday night: AL Rookie of the Year. Of surprise to few, if anyone, the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) announced Kurtz as the unanimous 2025 winner. He is the second player from the Athletics to win the award unanimously, joining Mark McGwire (1987).

This comes days after Kurtz became the only rookie to be among the 2025 Silver Slugger Award winners. Kurtz is the ninth Rookie of the Year in Athletics franchise history. This is second in the American League to the 10 from the New York Yankees. The previous eight are McGwire, Harry Byrd (1952), Jose Canseco (1986), Walt Weiss (1988), Ben Grieve (1998), Bobby Crosby (2004), Huston Street (2005) and Andrew Bailey (2009). Additionally, Kurtz is the eighth AL first baseman to win the award. The others are McGwire, Walt Dropo (1950), Chris Chambliss (1971), Mike Hargrove (1974), Eddie Murray (1977), Alvin Davis (1984), and Jose Abreu (2014).

Kurtz slashed .290/.383/.619 (122-for-420) across 117 games in 2025. He had 26 doubles, two triples, 36 homers, and 86 RBI. Notably, he had a 1.002 OPS — one of three hitters in the majors with at least 400 plate appearances to break the 1.000 OPS barrier. The others are familiar even to non-baseball fans: Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. The capstone of Kurtz’s season came July 25 in Houston. That night, Kurtz went 6-for-6 with four homers and a double.

Additionally, he had 19 total bases, eight RBI, and a record-tying six runs scored. His 19 total bases tied the single-game record set by Shawn Green in 2002. In addition to being the first rookie to score six times in a game, Kurtz was the first Athletics player and first rookie to have a four-homer game. Since no one has ever hit five in a game, Kurtz tied that record as well. His teammate, shortstop Jacob Wilson, finished second in the voting. This marked the fifth time in the AL that teammates were the winner and runner-up.

The others were Ron Hansen and Chuck Estrada (Orioles, 1960), Gary Peters and Pete Ward (White Sox, 1963), Fred Lynn and Jim Rice (Red Sox, 1975), and Alvin Davis and Mark Langston (Mariners, 1984). It has happened far more recently in the NL, where it has occurred four times. The four pairs are Jack Sanford and Ed Bouchee (Phillies, 1957), Jerome Walton and Dwight Smith (Cubs, 1989), Craig Kimbrel and Freddie Freeman (Braves, 2011), and Michael Harris II and Spencer Strider (Braves, 2022). The upcoming mayor of New York is 34-year-old Zohran Mamdani, who defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo. However, this article is not about either of the men. Instead, it is about Mamdani's wife, Rama Duwaji.

The Kentucky Court of Appeals has rejected efforts by former Gov. Matt Bevin and his ex-wife, Glenna Bevin, to block their estranged son, Jonah Bevin, from intervening in the court case where their divorce agreement is pending. PHILADELPHIA (AP) — After waiting more than four decades to clear his name in a friend’s 1980 killing, Subramanyam Vedam was set to walk free from a Pennsylvania prison this month. Virginia Mercury published an interesting article explaining why Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears did not get enough votes to become the first female governor of Virginia.

Virginia Mercury pointed out an interesting observation. Meet Harper Lee, a happy young dog who has overcome much hardship and is searching for her forever home. Great Dog Rescue New England (GDRNE), a dedicated foster-based dog rescue in Massachusetts, recently highlighted Harper Lee, a mixed-breed girl who came into their care some time ago. According to the rescue, “Harper came into foster care a small, frail, and emaciated puppy; her legs were terribly deformed. We had hoped that it was just rickets and proper nutrition could fix her legs. Sadly, the rickets had already done permanent damage to her bones.

She did wear a brace for a while on the worst-shaped leg, and it helped straighten it out some.” Nick Kurtz of the Athletics was unanimously selected as the 2025 American League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year. Kurtz is the 14th player to win the AL award by a unanimous vote and the second for the A’s, joining Mark McGwire (1987). Other unanimous winners in the AL: Carlton Fisk (1972), Sandy Alomar Jr. (1990), Tim Salmon (1993), Derek Jeter (1996), Nomar Garciaparra (1997), Evan Longoria (2008), Mike Trout (2012), Jose Abreu (2014), Aaron Judge (2017), Kyle Lewis (2020) and Gunnar Henderson (2024). There have been 13 unanimous winners in the National League.

This election marks the ninth time an A’s player has been honored, the second most in the AL to the Yankees’ 10. Other A’s winners: McGwire, Harry Byrd (1952), Jose Canseco (1986), Walt Weiss (1988), Ben Grieve (1998), Bobby Crosby (2004), Huston Street (2005) and Andrew Bailey (2009). Kurtz is the eighth first baseman to win the AL award. He joins a list featuring McGwire, Abreu, Walt Dropo (1950), Chris Chambliss (1971), Mike Hargrove (1974), Eddie Murray (1977) and Alvin Davis (1984). The 1-2 finish by Kurtz and Jacob Wilson in the voting is the fifth time in the AL and the ninth time overall that teammates were the winner and runner-up in balloting. Others to do so were the Orioles’ Ron Hansen and Chuck Estrada in 1960, the White Sox’ Gary Peters and Pete Ward in 1963, the Red Sox’ Fred Lynn and Jim Rice in1975 and...

It occurred four times in the NL: the Phillies’ Jack Sanford and Ed Bouchee in 1957, the Cubs’ Jerome Walton and Dwight Smith in 1989, the Braves’ Craig Kimbrel and Freddie Freeman in 2011... The Major League Baseball awards for the 2025 season are being revealed this week. Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz was the unanimous choice for the American League Rookie of the Year award. He is a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin won the National League honor. –Kurtz hit .290 with 36 home runs and 86 RBI’s after his late April call-up from the minor leagues.

In July, he became the 20th MLB player to hit four home runs in a game. Kurtz is the 14th unanimous winner in the A.L. and finished ahead of his teammate Jacob Wilson, the son of former Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson. –Baldwin hit .274 with 19 home runs while appearing in 124 games for the Braves. Copyright © document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) All Rights ReservedPrivacy Policy EOEButler Radio Network | 252 Pillow Street | Butler, PA 16001 | 724-283-1500

Lancaster Native Wins Al Rookie Of The Year Unanimously Msn

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