On Monday, the MLB announced the Rookies of the Year, and Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz was the unanimous winner of the American League, becoming the first Athletics player to be named Rookie of the Year since relief pitcher Andrew Bailey (2009). Kurtz’s teammate, shortstop Jacob Wilson, came secondwith 23 of a possible 30 votes for second place.
The Athletics are the first team with the top two Rookie of the Year voters since the Atlanta Braves (2022), when centerfielder Michael Harris II won the honor and was followed by starting pitcher Spencer Strider.
Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson turn the tide for the A’s
The two young stars helped the Athletics to 76-86, their best record since 2021 (86-76). The franchise had back-to-back 100-loss seasons in 2022-23 before going 69-93 in 2024, its final season in Oakland.
The A’s are awaiting construction of a stadium in Las Vegas and currently have no permanent home, but Kurtz and Wilson have given the organization a solid foundation on the field. In just 117 games this season, Kurtz, the No. 4 overall pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, slashed .290/.383/.619 with 36 home runs, 90 runs and 86 runs batted in. Wilson, the 2023 No. 6 overall pick, hit .311 and had as many extra base hits as strikeouts (39) in 125 games.
As good as Kurtz (22) and Wilson (23) were in 2025, there is more talent coming through the pipeline. At this year’s trade deadline, the Athletics signed Mason Miller closer to the San Diego Padres for prized shortstop prospect Leo De Vries, who MLB.com noted this in August was “the highest-ranked prospect ever dealt at the trade deadline.”
The Athletics are slowly building a more competitive roster, and Monday’s Rookie of the Year results are proof that they are moving in the right direction.
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