Nick Kurtz Hits 4 Home Runs: Athletics' Rookie's Historic Night By The Numbers
Furthermore, Kurtz, who was the Athletics' designated hitter on Friday night, finished the game 6-for-6. Here's Kurtz's historic night by the numbers.
1A: Kurtz became the first rookie in MLB history to hit four home runs in a single game.
1B: As a result of his Friday night offensive barrage, Kurtz now leads the AL in, well, everything offensively in the month of July: home runs (11), RBIs (27), batting average (.425), on-base percentage (.494), slugging percentage (1.082), OPS (1.576), runs (22), doubles (13) and extra-base hits (25).
2A: Kurtz is just the second player since 1900 to total both four home runs and six hits in a single game, Shawn Green (2002) being the other.
2B: Kurtz is just the second player in Athletics history to total at least three home runs and five hits in a single game, Jimmie Foxx (1932) being the other.
2C: Two of Kurtz's four home runs came in the eighth inning or later.
2D: Two of his four home runs were on pitches outside the strike zone.
3: Of his four home runs, three were sent to the opposite field.
5: Of his six hits, five were extra-base hits: four home runs and one double.
6: In what was maybe the most overlooked six-hit performance in MLB history — that's what four long balls does to one's attention span — Kurtz became the 119th player to accomplish the feat.
8A: Kurtz became just the eighth MLB player in the 21st century to hit four home runs in a single game.
8B: It's the eighth time that an Athletics player has logged six hits in a single game.
8C: Kurtz drove in eight runs.
9: It's the ninth time that a player has scored six runs in a single game and the first time in Athletics history.
19: The number of total bases that Kurtz accumulated, which ties an MLB record since 2000.
20: Kurtz became the 20th player in MLB history to hit four home runs in a single game.
64: Kurtz entered Friday with a .622 slugging percentage and left the night with a .686 slugging percentage, an .064-jump.
Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience Major League Baseball Athletics Nick Kurtz
recommended
Item 1 of 2 Get more from the Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
24 minutes ago
- New York Times
The Mets' next center fielder is in Binghamton — but is it Carson Benge or Jett Williams?
SOMERSET, N.J. — In Thursday's fifth inning, on a fly ball to right-center field, Carson Benge drifted comfortably back, gliding toward the gap, and snagged a fly ball just over his left ear, a showcase of the grace that could make Benge the New York Mets' center fielder of the future. Of course, in Sunday's sixth inning, on a sinking fly ball to left-center, Jett Williams raced to cover ground, getting there in plenty of time to make the catch and preserve a scoreless tie, a manifestation of the outright speed that could make Williams the Mets' center fielder of the future. Advertisement Center field is not as easy to play as John Fogerty wants his coach to believe, and the quality two-way center fielder has become an endangered species in the major leagues. Center fielders have produced below league-average numbers offensively in each of the last eight seasons. Only the St. Louis Cardinals have received less production from that position than the Mets this season. New York's .590 OPS from its center fielders is its worst since 1973, perhaps proof you can win a pennant even with subpar production from Don Hahn and a 42-year-old Willie Mays. In general, the Mets have enjoyed quality work out of center in the 50-plus years since, thanks to Mookie Wilson and Lance Johnson, Carlos Beltrán and Brandon Nimmo. Who will be next to take that baton? As muddled as their present looks, the Mets know their future contains more clarity than most. Their right fielder, shortstop and left fielder are signed through the end of the decade, and they have promising team-controlled options at the big-league level at catcher, third base and perhaps second base. When projecting where the Mets' everyday lineup will need future assistance, center field glares. In his two seasons running the Mets, David Stearns has signed one center fielder and traded for three others. Cedric Mullins is the latest option brought in to stabilize the position before he hits free agency this winter. Tyrone Taylor and Jose Siri are controlled via arbitration, meaning New York has no money committed to the position beyond 2025. That's where Benge, Williams and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies come in. Drafted in the first round out of Oklahoma State last summer, Benge earned a promotion to Double A in late June. To say he hit the ground running, as his manager Reid Brignac did Thursday, is to understate the cliche. Even Usain Bolt might not have hit the ground sprinting this fast. Benge was just named the Eastern League's player of the month for July, and he entered Thursday hitting .349 with a .437 on-base percentage and 1.070 OPS with Binghamton. Advertisement 'I feel like I've been taking the same swings,' Benge said Thursday. 'Everything has started to click a little bit more.' Mets director of player development Andrew Christie called it 'repatterning' with Benge's swing — 'changing the goal of what he's trying to do.' That means fewer groundballs and more balls pulled in the air. Benge hasn't been thinking about that consciously. It's just been the result of the drills the Mets have worked on with him this season. The bat sure looks like it can play, and the glove is coming around with more exposure in center. As a two-way player in college, Benge saw the majority of his outfield time in a corner. Thursday marked his 45th start in center this season, compared to 38 in the corners. 'I'm getting reps in all three spots, so I'm equally as comfortable (in center) as any other spot,' Benge said. 'Pre-pitch, his jumps and his first steps to the ball have improved,' Brignac said. 'It's the ability to show you can go get balls, that you can turn your back on the baseball and then find it, beat the ball to the spot — those things young players need the reps and the time to progress.' In other words, you might say Benge needs to get up to speed in center, and that's not just about reps; his next step is adding the footspeed that makes an outfielder a viable option in center. The Mets have made deeper investments into their sports science department that they hope can pay off this winter, for Benge and others. They've already seen progress there with Benge this season, with higher max speeds on his routes in recent weeks, according to Christie. 'I think there's every chance he stays in center field,' Christie said, 'and that would be a huge win for him and for us. He has the requisite base of athleticism to do that.' A Mets first-round pick in 2022, Williams has rebounded from a lost 2024 season by making it look like it never happened. In spring training, Williams wanted to rediscover the swing that propelled his 2023 breakout; his numbers this season are proof that he has. He entered Thursday hitting .282 with a .389 on-base percentage and .873 OPS while spending the full season so far with Binghamton. Advertisement 'We got to the '23 swing, and now we're improving upon it,' Christie said, noting that minor adjustments Williams made in late May helped him generate more extra-base power. A natural shortstop, center field is less of a priority for Williams right now. He plays there once or twice a week to expand his versatility; when he does, he shows off the exact kind of speed Benge aspires to. 'Easy,' Williams said of playing center. 'There's still a lot of work to do — taking the angles to the wall, knowing how many steps you have to the track, jumping into the wall if you have to, knowing the slice of the ball and the angles off the bat.' 'It's continuing to do what he's been doing,' Brignac said. 'He looks like a natural.' For the Mets, it might be less a question of whether Williams can defend at the position and more whether that's the best fit for him long-term. After all, he could be Jeff McNeil's successor at second. Binghamton's Nick Morabito and Brooklyn's A.J. Ewing have also had strong seasons while playing a bunch of center field. Finding reps for all those guys in center is the proverbial good problem to have. Just how valuable would it be for the Mets to find a two-way center fielder from within? 'This is not a very difficult question to answer: It would be massive,' Christie said. 'We have a huge opportunity to provide value to the major-league team, and those guys can be a huge part of it.' Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Boston Globe
an hour ago
- Boston Globe
Here's how Roman Anthony, even at just 21 years old, has changed the Red Sox since arriving in the big leagues
The Red Sox had staggered through the early part of the schedule when they decided to call up Anthony on June 9. They owned a 32-35 record, placing them fourth in the AL East. They are 32-17 since, best in the American League. Advertisement That's not solely because of Anthony, of course. There have been numerous, massive changes that have reshaped the roster since then. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Still, there's no question Anthony changed the dynamic of the club. Through 47 games entering Friday night's series opener in San Diego, he's hit .276/.392/.417, exhibiting remarkable plate discipline and patience that teammates suggest has had a ripple effect throughout the lineup. He is just the fifth player in the 21st century who, at 21 or younger, posted an OBP of .390 or better through his first 47 career games, joining Fernando Tatís Jr., Juan Soto, Jason Heyward, and Albert Pujols. Related : Anthony also has impressed with his base running and outfield play, grading as an above-average defender in the corners. Overall, he's produced 1.5 WAR in the calculations of FanGraphs. Yet even that marker of production is inadequate to capture who Anthony is and what he's done. Advertisement 'I think [what Anthony has done] is special. I think it's remarkable,' said Breslow. 'And I'm not sure that there's a metric that we should look at uniquely and believe that it perfectly captures the impact that he's had. We can look at his contribution, whether that's WAR or any of those. We could look at our team record. 'But I think that we've talked a lot over the last couple of months about this athletic, dynamic team that we're looking to build, and Roman suits that perfectly.' This isn't the first time the Sox have seen a team elevate its play once Anthony joined it. Raves started pouring in about Anthony as an 18-year-old making his pro debut in the Florida Complex League in 2022, shortly after he'd been drafted in the second round and signed to a $2.5 million bonus. Roman Anthony makes a sliding catch to secure an out against the Rays in his first Major League series. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Even in the FCL, the words 'mature' and 'maturity' were used so often that it was easy to forget Anthony was the youngest player on the team. His reputation only grew across levels, as players and coaches got to appreciate his talent and what mattered to him. Last year, when he was promoted to Triple A Worcester along with Kyle Teel and Marcelo Mayer, the team had a 53-60 record. Down the stretch, as Anthony solidified his case as the top prospect in baseball, the WooSox were 26-11. 'When we had him last year in Worcester, what he did to our team as far as wins and losses from the moment that he came up, we're seeing a copy-paste exactly of what happened when he came up to Worcester,' said Red Sox first base coach José Flores, who was the WooSox' bench coach last year. 'So I'm not surprised at all.'' Advertisement Flores, who was a minor league coordinator with the Cubs from 2013-17, suggested Anthony's impact upon arrival in the big leagues reminded him of Kyle Schwarber's with the Cubs in 2015, when a young team working to establish itself suddenly hit another gear. Anthony is a rookie but is respected as a sage by older teammates. 'You see the quality of at-bats this guy's taking on a daily basis, that's contagious,' said Flores. 'Trevor Story, a guy who's been in the big leagues a long time, seeing this kid, how comfortable he looks in the batter's box, they had conversations, and Trevor may have picked up something that he hadn't been thinking about through the course of the struggles he was having early. Now, all of a sudden, you're seeing a lot more success than struggle.' Related : Anthony's comportment on the field and among his teammates has been jarringly impressive. He's gifted but looks to coaches and teammates for insight on ways he can improve. He does not seek attention but is comfortable with it, and has shown a remarkable ability to handle the media and frame all comments through the prism of team success. He constantly seeks the feedback of veterans, yet already has earned their respect to the point that more experienced teammates turn to him for advice on the field. Advertisement 'I'm not sure I've ever been around a guy who has the type of impact that he has at that age,' said third base coach Kyle Hudson, who recalled his astonishment when Anthony introduced himself in spring training by asking for help to improve his sliding. 'That's the reason why we are where we are right now, and why he is where he is, just because his approach to everybody, and his approach to the game is about winning. That's what it's all about for him. There's not a selfish bone in his body . . . People are drawn to him. People want to talk to him. People want to pick his brain.' After wins, the Red Sox recognize a player of the game, who briefly addresses his teammates. Pitcher Garrett Crochet said he was 'caught off guard' by how mature, poised, and well-spoken Anthony was the first time he received the recognition. 'He's one of the more mature 21-year-olds I think that has ever come through major league baseball,' said Crochet. 'You mix his work ethic with his discipline, and that's kind of what you see on the field. It's been a pro at-bat since Day One. He never seems overwhelmed or overmatched. For me, it's really just the maturity that's the biggest thing.' Teammate Alex Bregman suggested Anthony's at-bats reminded him of Yordan Alvarez when the Astros slugger arrived in the big leagues and instantly became one of the league's best hitters as a 22-year-old in 2019. Pitcher Walker Buehler compared Anthony's presence to that of former Dodgers teammates Cody Bellinger and Corey Seager, both of whom won Rookie of the Year honors and eventually emerged as the MVP (Bellinger) or runner-up (Seager). Advertisement Yet there's also the dimension of how Anthony carries himself ― how he manages to display a 'Jeter gene' in how he fields every question, whether reframing all personal successes by discussing the team or taking the time to appreciate teammates, as when he opened his discussion of a recent back injury by praising Wilyer Abreu's fill-in. 'He wants to win,' said manager Alex Cora. 'He's shown it in the interviews [and] the way he goes about his business.' Indeed, the decision by Anthony to sign underscored and amplified that commitment. 'The main goal is just show up every day and be the best version of myself and get better each and every day and try to help this team win,' Anthony said. 'And obviously, now that this [deal] is done, it's even more [of] a reason to just go out and be the best version of myself and win baseball games.' A fan holds up a custom Roman Anthony sign after the outfielder signed his eight-year contract extension. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Alex Speier can be reached at
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Jakob Marsee, Romy González and more top fantasy baseball waiver wire options
Post trade deadline, many prospects are getting more of a look, and the natural ebbs and flows of hot streaks and slumps are surfacing some familiar names. To start, here are Yahoo's most-added hitters recently. Jakob Marsee has shown some nice power in his first taste of MLB action, but his real calling card is his speed. He swiped 47 bases in 98 Triple-A games this year and stole 51 last year across two levels (and two organizations — he came to the Fish in the Luis Arráez trade last year). If he can maintain enough power and contact in the big leagues, he could be a really nice player. Advertisement Darell Hernáiz was overmatched last year but has been great since his return to the MLB stage a week ago. Prospect reports note his exciting tools, but for 2025, he's more of a 14-to-15-teamer than someone who should be rostered across the board. Another Romy González hot streak has put him back on the most-added list. The power is legit — he has hit a ball over 112 MPH three years in a row and has cut his strikeout rate while raising his barrel rate this year. The playing time uncertainty and the fact that he's suddenly breaking out make his value hard to pin down, but he's worth rostering for now. Josh Jung is back and will start playing more third base, which could mean a regular spot in the lineup. If he's healthy, he offers a serviceable average and a steady source of power. I was curious about Eli White earlier in the season, but I lost interest largely due to his lack of power. With Ronald Acuña out, White is suddenly doing his best impression of the superstar, slugging three homers in as many days this past week. I still think he's a roughly average hitter on a hot streak, but that's deep-league relevant, and there could be a spot for him in 12-team leagues, depending on the state of your outfield. Kody Clemens has a regular role with Minnesota and some power to work with. He has eligibility almost everywhere and could be a handy fill-in in deep leagues. He's closer to replacement level in 12-teamers. Joey Ortiz has put together a nice hot streak, but for fantasy purposes, he's mostly a speedster. The thing is, he doesn't steal enough for a guy you're rostering because of his speed. As for the four catchers on the list, I'm an Alejandro Kirk fan, but I wonder if the Blue Jays will be careful with him after his return from a concussion. If he's playing every day, he can provide good value, even with middling power. Tyler Stephenson and Ryan Jeffers are both decent sources of power. Kyle Higashioka has a good hit tool, but he's more of a half-time player. Jordan Beck (OF, COL) — Beck has plenty of power and speed. That's counterbalanced by a tendency to swing and miss, but he's still 12-team relevant on a regular week, and lately he's been making better contact and catching fire in the process. Trent Grisham (OF, NYY) — Grisham continues to provide solid production atop the Yankees' lineup. Advertisement Jurickson Profar (OF, ATL) — Profar started cold after returning from suspension, but has warmed up recently. Last year was likely his peak season, but it provides some optimism that he can get close to that level again. Austin Hays (OF, CIN) — He's been ice-cold recently, but as long as this is more of a blip than a health issue, Hays is still a solid producer in a hitters' park. If you need power or speed, and can take a hit in other categories, these guys can help plenty. Matt Wallner (OF, MIN) — Wallner was injured and then struggled when he was back, but lately, he's been the best version of himself with a manageable average and lots of homers. Chandler Simpson (OF, TB) — He steals a lot and usually hits leadoff. He's also an obvious trade target depending on how much you need that speed. Daulton Varsho (OF, TOR) — He's back and has been crushing the ball since he returned. He will hurt you in batting average, but he helps everywhere else. Jo Adell (OF, LAA) — He's essentially a more extreme version of Varsho — huge power, and showed in June that he can be one of the sport's top sluggers when things are going right. Adell can also run a sub-.200 average without enough home runs to justify it. Eli White (OF, ATL) — See above. Colton Cowser (OF, BAL) — He's a starter on Team 'He's Fine I Guess.' He offers power against righties and the occasional steal. In 12-teamers, I'm likely looking elsewhere, but there's a place for him in deeper leagues. Isaac Collins (OF, MIL) — Collins is great in OBP leagues and is playing his way into the conversation in conventional leagues. Romy González (1B/2B, BOS) — See above. Colt Keith (1B/2B/3B, DET) — Keith is a solid hitter in a good lineup. He's a little better in real life than in fantasy, but still an asset in most leagues. Warming Bernabel (1B, COL) — He's off to a blazing start, and his power and contact skills give him a good shot at success, especially at altitude. Advertisement Matt Shaw (3B, CHC) — A star player is hidden in Shaw, who will emerge at some point, whether next year or the one after. For now, Shaw is a better fantasy player than a real-life one due to his penchant for steals. The average should rise a bit, and maybe we'll see some power flashes before the season ends. Josh Jung (3B, TEX) — See above. Noelvi Marte (3B/OF, CIN) — He's in a bit of a slump, but I'm still a fan of the tools. Ernie Clement (3B/2B/SS/1B, TOR) — He's roster spackle for your team and the Blue Jays. His excellent contact rate leads to a high average and lots of runs. Nolan Schanuel (1B, LAA) — You know the deal here — high average and acceptable counting stats. Spencer Horwitz (1B, PIT) — He only plays against righties (and you only want him against righties), but he's an above-average hitter against them. Luke Keaschall (2B, MIN) — Back from the IL with plenty of opportunity in the Twins infield, Keaschall is picking up where he left off after his blazing start was interrupted by a fractured right forearm. It's too early to know where he'll settle in, but he has decent power, a good hit tool and lots of speed. Colson Montgomery (SS/3B, CHW) — Yes, he barely makes the roster rate cutoff to be listed here, and I'm not sure what he has to do to get noticed in the leagues where he's unrostered. Montgomery has been playing out of his mind, with seven homers in the past two weeks. Who knows how much of this continues, but the power is real. Carlos Correa (SS, HOU) — Correa doesn't steal, and his swing doesn't lend itself to a ton of homers, but he's still a great hitter and valuable fantasy player, especially now that he's hitting in the top half of Houston's lineup. Otto Lopez (2B/SS, MIA) — He's another regular in this column. I see another half-level of potential here, but the present value is still pretty nice. Advertisement Lenyn Sosa (2B, CHW) — He chases way too much, but manages to make enough contact, and the power is real. Those are skills you can dream on, but improving one's batting eye is easier said than done. For now, he's still plenty productive. J.P. Crawford (SS, SEA) — The recent trades knocked him to the back of the lineup, and the homers and steals will only show up occasionally, but he gives you a good average and OBP in a strong lineup. Jonathan India (2B/3B/OF, KC) — I'm still pretty 'meh' here, but he can give you runs and a decent average. C.J. Kayfus (1B/OF, CLE) — Kayfus has an increasingly familiar profile among hitting prospects: solid power and plenty of strikeouts. That worked fine in the minor leagues because the K rate stayed in the mid-20s, and his power allowed him to run high BABIPs, leading to a good average. From his first few days with the Guardians, it looks like he'll be in the lineup most of the time. He's been hitting eighth, but presumably he could rise if he's hitting well. The median outcome for the rest of the season isn't great, but he's worth a shot in deep leagues if you're searching for another bat. Jakob Marsee (OF, MIA) — See above. Logan Henderson (MIL); Luis Severino (ATH); Nestor Cortes (SD); Emmet Sheehan (LAD); Zebby Matthews (MIN) Severino seems to have found the form that made him one of the better comeback stories last year. He has also been better (or luckier) at stranding runners lately. You might not want to start him at home in every matchup, but his uneven start is masking his strong recent results, and I like him going forward. It's hard to know what we're getting with Cortes this year, seeing as he just made his first start since April. But there is reason for optimism in his excellent rehab starts, and San Diego is a nice landing spot for any pitcher. Advertisement Cortes' trade to the Padres opens the door for Logan Henderson to get another shot in Milwaukee. He has ace potential and should be rostered everywhere. I'm still optimistic about Zebby Matthews in the long term. A good fastball and a great slider are a very nice foundation. I think it all clicks if he can figure out a good third offering. For now, he may be stuck as a twice-through-the-order guy. I'm still figuring out Sheehan, but I'm very intrigued. He put up insane (over 40%) strikeout numbers in the minors, and has had mostly good results, including a 25% K rate in three-to-five-inning chunks in MLB. The Dodgers have used him differently, but he seems to have a rotation spot for now. Slade Cecconi (CLE); Adrian Houser (TBR); Charlie Morton (DET); Joe Boyle (TBR); Jacob Lopez (ATH); Logan Allen (CLE); Cam Schlittler (NYY) I've mentioned the first four names here regularly. Morton and Cecconi are the ones I trust the most not to blow up your ratios. Boyle is the upside guy. Lopez hit a rough patch, with three bad starts in four tries, but then bounced back and hasn't allowed a run in his past two outings. Among pitchers with at least 70 innings, he has the 29th-best K-BB rate at 17.5% (tied with Kevin Gausman), despite stuff that grades out as mediocre. Schlitter has better stuff but worse results in a very small sample. He's the easy pick in this group for 2026. As for this year, expect some volatility, but he's a good pick for upside. José Quintana (MIL); Justin Verlander (SFG); Patrick Corbin (TEX); Matthew Liberatore (STL) It's disorienting to see Corbin pitch his way into fantasy relevance after being someone you could ignore for the past four years. He has tinkered with his pitch mix in the past two years, swapping his four-seamer for a cutter. That has helped bring his Stuff+ close to average. The K rate is around 20%, and he should be able to keep a low-to-mid-4s ERA going. Advertisement Liberatore puts up similar figures. He can be a useful filler in deep leagues, but don't expect much from his counting stats. Verlander has had an uneven season but has righted the ship lately. Quintana is the one I trust the most here. The K% won't be great, but he tends to find a way to good results. Ronny Henriquez (MIA); Calvin Faucher (MIA); JoJo Romero (STL); Robert Garcia (TEX); Phil Maton (TEX); Tony Santillan (CIN); Garrett Whitlock (BOS); Edwin Uceta (TB) The Marlins listed here are in the mix for saves and have been solid in whichever inning they pitch. Romero seems to have emerged with the closer role in St. Louis. I listed Garcia because he may keep the closer job if he can get back on track, but Maton looks primed to grab the job from him. The other three have been excellent lately and can be nice ratio stabilizers. (Photo of Romy González: Brian Fluharty / Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
