The Oakland Athletics were hoping to get healthy at the right time. Instead, they just took a gut punch.
Nick Kurtz, the team’s starting first baseman and an All-Star selection for the American League, is likely headed to the injured list with a right thumb capsule strain. MLB.com’s Martin Gallegos reported the news Friday, and it puts Kurtz’s availability for the All-Star Game in serious doubt.
The injury is a brutal break for both the 23-year-old slugger and an Athletics team that has been clawing for any kind of momentum. Shortstop Jacob Wilson just returned from the IL, and there was some optimism that the A’s could finally field multiple young stars together. Now they’re staring at an extended stretch without their most dangerous hitter.
Kurtz hasn’t looked like a rookie since the day he stepped on a big league field. He won the 2025 AL Rookie of the Year Award after slashing .290 with a 1.002 OPS and 36 homers. This season, he’s hitting .266 with a .902 OPS and 20 home runs. The production is elite, and the team’s offense takes a real hit without him in the lineup.
The bigger picture for the A’s
Oakland sits at 41-52 heading into Friday night’s game against the Chicago White Sox. They started the season strong, but the last few weeks have been a grind. Inconsistent offense, a young rotation still finding its way, and now this. Losing an All-Star first baseman for any length of time is not how you climb back into contention.
The team hasn’t released a timeline for Kurtz’s return. That’s the kind of silence that usually means they’re waiting for swelling to go down or another opinion before they commit to anything. In the meantime, the A’s will have to figure out who plays first base and who hits in the middle of the order.
For Kurtz personally, this stinks. He was set to be part of the All-Star festivities, a milestone moment for a young player who has already accomplished a lot. Whether he can still participate in any capacity is unclear. The league typically allows replacements if a player is officially scratched, but the A’s haven’t made that call yet.
Keep an eye on the A’s injury report over the next 48 hours. That’s when we’ll get the official word on whether Kurtz is headed to the IL and how long the team expects him to be out. Right now, the only thing certain is that Oakland’s lineup just got a lot less scary.
Leave a Comment