MLB: Nick Kurtz Goes Nuclear—A’s Rookie Smashes 4 Home Runs and Now Rookie of The Year Favorite

Houston, TX — Nick Kurtz gave baseball fans, especially A's fans a night to remember last night on Friday, July 25th, and the Houston Astros a night to forget. The Athletics rookie exploded for four home runs, six hits, eight RBIs, and a record-tying 19 total bases in a jaw-dropping 15-3 blowout on Friday night.

Kurtz became the first rookie in MLB history to hit four homers in a single game, joining just 19 other players to ever accomplish the feat. He’s also one of only two players — along with Dodgers legend Shawn Green in 2002 — to tally six hits and four homers in a single game.

"It still feels like a dream. I’m kind of speechless," Kurtz said after the game.
 Manager Mark Kotsay called it “the best game I’ve ever watched from a single player.”

Kurtz went 6-for-6, launching home runs in the 2nd, 6th, 8th, and 9th innings — each off a different Astros pitcher. He even narrowly missed a fifth homer, settling for a 381-foot double that missed the yellow line by inches.

The 22-year-old slugger, taken fourth overall in last year’s draft, is now up to 23 home runs in just 66 games, and he leads MLB in virtually every offensive category for July:

• .425 AVG
• 1.082 SLG
• 11 HR
• 27 RBI
• 22 Runs

And yes — he did it all in front of his family, including his godparents who were attending their first game of the season.

The fourth home run came off position player Cooper Hummel, a 3-run shot into the Crawford Boxes in left. Even Kurtz laughed after the game:

"You don’t want to be the guy that strikes out on a position player."

Historic Notes:

• Kurtz is the youngest player ever with a four-homer game, beating the previous record held by Pat Seerey in 1948.
• His 19 total bases tie the all-time MLB record.
• The A's rookie odds to win AL Rookie of the Year jumped from -325 to -2500 overnight.

At this point, Kurtz isn’t just chasing records — he’s rewriting them. And if Friday’s eruption is any indication, the A’s might have something very special brewing in Sacramento.

MainEvent.News | Backstage Take:
This wasn’t just a breakout performance — it was a career announcement. Nick Kurtz didn’t just make history; he shattered expectations. With 4 bombs and 19 total bases, the A’s rookie reminded us all why baseball is the most unpredictable and electrifying show on Earth. The Athletics may be rebuilding, but in Kurtz, they’ve got a cornerstone for the future — and possibly the American League Rookie of the Year already locked up.