Nick Kurtz makes history, capturing AL Rookie of the Year honors after a dazzling first year .MH
A well-deserved honor for the A’s rookie first baseman
The American League Rookie of the Year winner was announced Monday evening, and to no one’s surprise A’s first baseman Nick Kurtz took home the award this year, the first Athletic to win it since Andrew Bailey back in 2009:
It was a unanimous pick as Kurtz secured all 30 first-place votes.
That caps a historic rookie season for the young slugger. After getting drafted fourth overall just last year, Kurtz rocketed up through the minors and played just 33 games on the farm before getting called up. The lefty masher impressed almost immediately en route to hitting 36 home runs in his first taste of the big leagues, the second-most in baseball among first basemen. He wasn’t just a power threat though as he also hit .290 and
Kurtz’s win didn’t come alone either. Teammate Jacob Wilson, who looked like the early favorite for the award before Kurtz’s promotion, came in second place, the first time teammates have finished 1-2 in Rookie of the Year voting since 1984:
These two look like the cornerstones of a future playoff team and the best part is it’s just getting started. We should get to see these two in the Green & Gold for years to come. Now we’ll see if Kurtz can aim for a bigger award next season. Congrats Nick!
