WEST SACRAMENTO, July 25, 2025 (Daikin Park) – In a night destined for the history books, Oakland Athletics rookie first baseman and designated hitter Nick Kurtz delivered arguably the most electrifying single-game performance of any rookie in Major League Baseball history.

At just 22 years old, Kurtz launched four home runs in a 15–3 blowout of the Houston Astros, becoming the first rookie ever to hit four home runs in a single MLB game, and one of only 20 players in league history to ever do it.

Historic Night on the Diamond

Kurtz compiled a perfect 6‑for‑6 night at the plate, driving in eight runs and amassing 19 total bases—tying Major League Baseball’s single‑game total‑bases record, previously set by Shawn Green in 2002.

Remarkably, each of his four long balls came off a different pitcher, underscoring Kurtz’s adaptable power and timing—an impressive feat that silenced even the Astros’ beleaguered bullpen.

Kurtz’s full performance line:

• 1st inning: Single
• 2nd inning: Two‑run homer off starter Ryan Gusto
• 4th inning: RBI double
• 6th inning: Solo homer off reliever Nick Hernandez
• 8th inning: Solo homer off pitcher Kaleb Ort
• 9th inning: Three‑run homer off position player Cooper Hummel, sealing the historic night.

With that final blast, Kurtz became the 20th player in MLB history to reach the four‑homer milestone—and the first to do so during his rookie season.

Season and Rookie Milestones

The four‑homer explosion marked Kurtz’s 23rd home run in just 66 career games, setting off fireworks in the AL Rookie of the Year race.

As of this game, he leads all rookies in home runs, RBIs (59), and extra‑base hits (43)—even more remarkable considering he debuted only in late April after being promoted from Triple‑A with just over 30 minor‑league games played.

His slash line stood at an incredible .305 average with a 1.060 OPS through his first 66 games—a pace not seen from any debuting player since at least 1901.

From Prospect to Sensation

A native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Kurtz attended Wake Forest and was selected fourth overall in the 2024 MLB Draft. He signed with Oakland for $7 million and advanced rapidly through Single-A, Double-A, and Triple-A before his MLB debut on April 23, 2025.

Initially, his major-league ascent was gradual—he failed to homer in his first 16 games. But once his power unlocked in mid-June, he erupted. Within a matter of games, he posted multiple multi-home‑run hits and walk‑off blasts, including a famed walk‑off against Houston’s Josh Hader on June 16, complete with a dramatic bat flip.

His breakout streak in late July earned him his first American League Player of the Week honors, after hitting .583 with multiple extra‑base hits, including seven hits in three games and a home run, from July 18–20.

Context in Baseball Lore

Only 19 players before Kurtz had ever hit four home runs in a single game—making it one of baseball’s rarest feats. Among them were legends like Shawn Green, whose total bases mark Kurtz matched with 19. Kurtz now ties the all-time single-game total bases record and becomes MLB’s first rookie to join this elite club.

The most recent four‑homer game before Kurtz came earlier in the same season—Eugenio Suárez did it on April 26, 2025 with Arizona—but Kurtz’s is the first by a rookie.

Significance for Oakland

For the Athletics—midway through a rebuild and currently bottom dwellers of the AL West—Kurtz’s performance represents a potential franchise cornerstone. His breakout is already reshaping the Rookie of the Year flow: former early favorite Jacob Wilson, Oakland’s rookie shortstop, has ceded leadership in the race to Kurtz thanks to this surge.

Despite team struggles, Kurtz and Wilson have become symbols of hope, and his four‑homer game places him firmly in the national spotlight.

What Comes Next for Kurtz

Kurtz’s meteoric rise has sparked comparisons to past generational rookies. With continued consistency, he is now seen as a frontrunner not just for Rookie of the Year, but as one of the breakout stars of the 2025 MLB season.

Questions loom: can he sustain this level of production over the full season? Will opposing pitchers adjust? — but for now, Kurtz has given baseball fans a night they’ll never forget.