Nick Kurtz, MLB
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Even though Nick Kurtz had a record-setting game for the Athletics, his parents had a tense ninth-inning moment
2don MSN
Nick Kurtz already had three homers and five hits with his parents and godparents in attendance as he began his final at-bat with a chance to make history, but none of that was top of mind for the Athletics' astonishing rookie slugger.
The 6-foot-5 slugger became the first rookie to hit four home runs in a game and matched the MLB record for total bases with 19.
Nick Kurtz made MLB history with 4 HRs and 6 hits, and shared an emotional postgame moment with his family after the A's win.
Kurtz keeps his family and girlfriend off Instagram, where he focuses on baseball photos. On the field, though, his girlfriend, parents and siblings were in the stands to watch him get his first hit as a Major Leaguer, according to the Bee. They even got some air time on television, as his father gestured in an animated fashion.
On Friday, Kurtz homered off each of the Astros’ four pitchers: Ryan Gusto, Nick Hernandez, Kaleb Ort and outfielder Cooper Hummel, who worked the ninth with the game out of hand. His longest drive was his third, a 414-foot solo shot off Ort in the eighth.
Among first basemen, Kurtz is tied for fourth in home runs, funnily enough with Matt Olson and Tyler Soderstrom with 18 on the year. Topping the leaderboard is Pete Alonso of the Mets with 21, while Detroit's Spencer Torkelson is right there with him. One back of that duo is Michael Busch of the Chicago Cubs.