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Nick Kurtz Reaches 30 Homers as A’s Rookies Dominate Final AL ROY Poll

MLB’s expert panel now favors the slugging first baseman by a near-unanimous margin.

Image
Sep 10, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz (16) reacts after hitting a solo home run against the Boston Red Sox during the second inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images
Aug 30, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson (5) watches a ball soar over his head during the sixth inning in a game against the Texas Rangers at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images

Overview

  • MLB’s final Rookie of the Year poll places Oakland’s Nick Kurtz first with near-unanimity, with the only two first-place votes cast for Boston’s Roman Anthony and Jacob Wilson finishing second.
  • Kurtz hit his 30th home run with a 357-foot shot off Red Sox rookie Payton Tolle, marking a key milestone in his debut season.
  • Betting markets reflect the gap, with ESPN Bet listing Kurtz at -50000 and long odds for Anthony (40-1) as well as Cam Smith and Jasson Dominguez (75-1).
  • Across his first 100 MLB games, Kurtz was batting .301 with 29 homers and 73 RBIs, leading all rookies in homers and RBIs and standing as the only rookie with an OPS above 1.000.
  • Wilson remains the primary challenger on the strength of an All-Star start at shortstop, elite contact skills with just 34 strikeouts, and one of MLB’s top batting averages.