On Friday night, Nick Kurtz made a momentous mark in baseball history, becoming the first rookie in MLB history to hit four home runs in a single game. This incredible feat took place during the Athletics’ resounding 15-3 victory over the Houston Astros. The 22-year-old’s performance is celebrated as one of the greatest in MLB history, regardless of a player's experience level, and included a staggering total of 19 bases, tying the major league record established by Shawn Green in 2002.
In a post-game interview, a nearly speechless Kurtz shared his disbelief, saying, “It still really hasn’t sat in that it’s actually just happened. That I had a game like that. It’s stuff that you don’t even dream about, because it doesn’t really happen. So it’s an unbelievable feeling.” His extraordinary performance included going six-for-six at the plate, hitting home runs off each of the Astros' pitchers in the second, sixth, eighth, and ninth innings. Additionally, Kurtz contributed a single in the first inning and a 381-foot double in the fourth inning, which would have cleared the fence in six different MLB ballparks, according to ESPN.
Kurtz's final stats for the game were impressive: six runs scored and eight RBIs. Athletics manager Mark Kotsay expressed his admiration, stating, “It’s arguably the best game I’ve ever watched from a single player. This kid continues to have jaw-dropping moments.” Remarkably, Kurtz is now just the 20th player in major league history, and the first in Athletics franchise history, to achieve the milestone of four home runs in a single game. What makes his accomplishment even more remarkable is that he achieved this feat far earlier in his career than any other player. Prior to Friday night, the record was held by Mark Whiten, who hit four home runs in his 425th MLB game in 1993. Kurtz accomplished this in just his 66th game.
At the tender age of 22, Kurtz is also the youngest player ever to hit four home runs in a game, surpassing Pat Seerey, who was 25 when he achieved the same feat for the Chicago White Sox on July 18, 1948. The historic night was made even more special as Kurtz’s parents and godparents were in attendance at Daikin Park. He humorously remarked, “This is the first time my godparents have been here, so they probably have to come the rest of the year, to every single game.”
Selected fourth overall by the Athletics in the 2024 Draft, Kurtz's rapid ascent to becoming one of the league’s top hitters is nothing short of remarkable. The Pennsylvania native has now hit 23 home runs this season and is currently enjoying a 12-game hitting streak, during which he has accumulated an impressive 20 extra-base hits. This extraordinary performance not only solidifies Nick Kurtz's place in MLB history but also sets the stage for what promises to be a thrilling career ahead.
