A’s Select 1B Nick Kurtz in First Round of 2024 First-Year Player Draft

OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland A’s selected first baseman Nick Kurtz from Wake Forest University with the fourth pick of the first round of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, the club announced today.

Kurtz hit .306 with 22 home runs, 11 doubles, and 57 RBI for the Demon Deacons this season while also earning First Team All-ACC honors. He led the country with 78 walks and just 42 strikeouts to go along with a .531 on-base percentage, .763 slugging percentage, and a 1.294 OPS. As a sophomore, he finished second in the ACC in home runs (24), walks (63), runs scored (76) and slugging percentage (.784). The left-handed hitter earned All-ACC First Team honors in 2023 and Third Team honors in 2022.

The Lancaster, Penn., native entered the draft as the No. 7 prospect by MLB Pipeline. Across three collegiate seasons, Kurtz batted .333 with a 1.235 OPS, 61 homers, 182 RBI, 189 walks, and 130 strikeouts in 164 career games.

Kurtz was selected with the fourth overall pick, marking the second consecutive year the A’s have selected in the top 10. Last season the A’s selected infielder Jacob Wilson with the sixth overall pick. The A’s selected University of Arizona catcher Daniel Susac with the 19^th overall pick in 2022, Thousand Oaks High School shortstop Max Muncy with the 25^th pick in 2021, Turlock High School catcher Tyler Soderstrom with the 26^th pick in 2020, and Clemson University shortstop Logan Davidson with the 29^th selection in 2019.