Athletics select 1B Nick Kurtz with the 4th overall pick in 2024 MLB Draft

Oakland gets their college bat with a premium pick, and some money to spend later in the draft

With the 4th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, the Oakland Athletics selected first baseman Nick Kurtz out of Wake Forest. Kurtz brings power to the system, and financial flexibility for Oakland’s remaining picks.

Bio

DOB: 03/12/2003

Height: 6’5”

Weight: 240 lbs

Bats/Throws: L/L

Rankings

Baseball America: 8

MLB Pipeline: 7

ESPN: 10

Introducing Nick Kurtz

A shoulder injury bottomed Kurtz’s value this spring, as he got off to an awful start and did nothing but draw walks for the first part of the season. Then he got healthy, and he took off, finishing with 22 home runs and an NCAA-leading 78 walks. Kurtz’s approach and all-fields power make him an easy fit in the middle of a major league lineup, as he could end up with a 30+ home run ceiling and be a high on base guy. The only real knock for him is his tendency to be injured and the fact that he doesn’t have the ability to play off of first base. Kurtz is a fantastic first baseman, however, graded as plus by most outlets, and that will help improve his value. His long arms can give some pause as to whether he can handle elite velocity at the next level, but there are no major red flags with his swing, he has a fantastic approach, and has not shown issues with velocity at the college level. He is a safe pick who could help solidify the Athletics offense as soon as 2025.

First Reaction

Oakland went down my personal draft board quite a bit with this pick, I had him ranked 6th, but it is a strategic selection that offers a lot of flexibility later in the draft. Kurtz should come in under Oakland’s slot value here, and they can now spread money out into later rounds to pick up even more premium talent like they did with Steven Echavarria last season. Oakland eschews positional flexibility here but in exchange they also get likely the best overall hitter among those remaining. The injuries are a concern, but Kurtz is a player I am higher on than most and who I think will be in the middle of a major league batting order very soon. The only concern now is where he, or Tyler Soderstrom, end up defensively moving forward. He’s a better defender than Soderstrom at first base, so Soderstrom may end up in a designated hitter role once Kurtz is ready. Kurtz is a safer bet to hit and is likely a cheaper sign than Jac Caglianone, though he comes with a more limited upside. Oakland left my best player available, JJ Wetherholt, on the board. He comes in as my second-ranked prospect behind Jacob Wilson and narrowly above Luis Morales.

Grade: C