Nick Kurtz Bio
Nicholas Jeffrey Kurtz, nicknamed “Big Amish,” is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, he played college baseball for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons before being selected by the Oakland Athletics with the fourth overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft. After a brief stint in the minor leagues, Kurtz made his MLB debut in 2025 and quickly emerged as one of the American League’s most productive young hitters, winning the AL Rookie of the Year award that same season.
Early Life and Background
Nicholas Jeffrey Kurtz was born on March 12, 2003, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to Marie and Jeff Kurtz. He grew up in a family with deep Pennsylvania roots, where his father, Jeff Kurtz, works in real estate. Nick has two brothers and one sister, including an older brother, Logan, who played collegiate baseball at Penn State Berks from 2012 to 2013.
Kurtz’s parents enrolled him in tee-ball when he was just four years old, sparking a lifelong love for the game. He spent his freshman year of high school at Manheim Township High School in Lancaster before transferring to the Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. At Baylor, Kurtz lettered all four years in baseball and three years in basketball, showcasing his athletic versatility. Growing up, he was a fan of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Path to Baseball
Kurtz’s path to professional baseball began in earnest on the international stage. He played for the USA 12U National Team and won a gold medal at the 2015 U-12 Baseball World Cup in Tainan, Taiwan. That early success foreshadowed a promising amateur career, and he committed to Wake Forest University to play college baseball during his sophomore year at Baylor.
As a freshman at Wake Forest in 2022, Kurtz was named a freshman All-American after hitting .338/.471/.637 with 15 home runs and 56 runs batted in over 204 at-bats in 54 games. As a sophomore in 2023, he elevated his performance, hitting .353/.527/.784 with 24 home runs and 69 RBI, earning first-team All-American honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association. As a junior in 2024, he served as team captain and slashed .306/.531/.763 with 22 home runs and 57 RBI, leaving Wake Forest as the program’s all-time leader in walks with 189.
Nick Kurtz Career
Early Career (2024)
Kurtz entered the 2024 Major League Baseball draft as one of the top prospects in the class. The Oakland Athletics selected him in the first round with the fourth overall pick. On July 22, 2024, Kurtz signed with Oakland, receiving a $7 million signing bonus. He split his first professional season between the Single-A Stockton Ports and Double-A Midland RockHounds, beginning his rapid ascent through the minor leagues.
Kurtz was assigned to the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators to begin the 2025 season, though his time in the minors proved brief. On April 21, 2025, after just 32 total games in the minor leagues, he was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.
MLB Breakthrough (2025)
Kurtz made his MLB debut on April 23, 2025, against the Texas Rangers, where he went 1-for-4 with an RBI single. On May 13, he hit his first career home run off J. P. Feyereisen of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Less than a month later, on June 16, Kurtz delivered a two-run walk-off home run off Bryan Abreu of the Houston Astros to give the A’s a 3–1 victory. The blast traveled a Statcast-projected 447 feet, making it the longest walk-off homer by an A’s player since Statcast began tracking in 2015.
On July 25, 2025, Kurtz authored one of the most remarkable individual performances in MLB history, becoming the first rookie in MLB history and the first Athletics player to hit four home runs in a single game. He finished with six hits in six at-bats, including a double and a single, tying Shawn Green’s 23-year-old MLB record for total bases in a game with 19. The home runs came off four different Houston Astros pitchers, including position player Cooper Hummel, in a 15–3 Athletics victory. He was named American League Player of the Month for July, hitting .395/.480/.953 with 24 runs, 11 home runs, and 27 RBI, the first Athletic to win the award since Josh Donaldson in September 2013. On September 13, Kurtz hit a 493-foot grand slam off Scott Barlow of the Cincinnati Reds, the longest homer ever by an Athletics hitter since Statcast was introduced in 2015 and tied with the longest homer in two years alongside Shohei Ohtani. He was later named AL Rookie of the Year.
Athletics Era (2025–Present)
Wearing number 16 for the Athletics, Kurtz has become a cornerstone of the franchise’s lineup. Through his early MLB career, he has posted a .290 batting average with 55 home runs and 147 runs batted in, establishing himself as one of the most feared power hitters in the American League. His combination of patience at the plate, raw power, and mature approach belies his rookie status.
His teammates quickly embraced him, awarding him the nickname “Big Amish,” a jocular reference to his stature at 6 ft 5 in and 240 lb, as well as his hometown of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, which has a large Amish community. After hitting home runs, Kurtz began celebrating by twirling his hands in a circular motion, in homage to the Amish tradition of churning butter. Kurtz himself is not Amish.
Notable Events and Milestones
Kurtz’s most iconic moment came on July 25, 2025, when his four-home-run game placed him alongside Shawn Green in the MLB record book. He also became the first Athletics player in the Statcast era to hit a walk-off home run of 447 feet and the first to hit a 493-foot grand slam. In his rookie season, he earned both the AL Rookie of the Year award and a Silver Slugger Award, cementing his status as one of the brightest young stars in baseball.
Nick Kurtz Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Kurtz was raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, by his parents, Marie and Jeff Kurtz. His father, Jeff Kurtz, works in real estate, and his older brother, Logan, played collegiate baseball at Penn State Berks. The Kurtz family encouraged athletics from a young age, enrolling Nick in tee-ball at age four.
Personal Life
Despite the “Big Amish” nickname given to him by his Athletics teammates, Kurtz is not Amish. The nickname is a playful nod to both his imposing 6 ft 5 in, 240 lb frame and his Lancaster, Pennsylvania, roots. He grew up cheering for the Philadelphia Phillies, and his family has remained a central part of his life throughout his rapid rise to the major leagues.
2025 Season Performance
Kurtz’s 2025 season was nothing short of historic. He opened the year in Triple-A Las Vegas before a swift promotion to Oakland on April 21, 2025. He made his MLB debut two days later and never looked back, posting a .290 batting average with 55 home runs and 147 RBI through the early portion of his major-league career. His July performance alone, which included a four-home-run game and AL Player of the Month honors, propelled the Athletics’ offense and energized the club’s fan base.
His late-season power surge continued with a 493-foot grand slam on September 13, further establishing his reputation as one of the game’s elite power hitters. By season’s end, he had been crowned AL Rookie of the Year and earned a Silver Slugger Award, validating the Athletics’ decision to select him fourth overall in the 2024 draft.
Looking ahead, Kurtz’s combination of plate discipline, raw power, and team-friendly contract positions the Athletics with one of the most promising young corner infielders in baseball. With multiple years of team control ahead, he is widely viewed as a foundational piece of the franchise’s long-term plans.
