Nick Kurtz Secures AL Rookie of the Year, Gains Full Service Year
Nick Kurtz has officially been named the 2025 American League Rookie of the Year, as announced by the Baseball Writers Association of America. This recognition follows an impressive season that showcased his exceptional talent on the field. Kurtz, who was a unanimous choice for the award, finished first in the voting, paving the way for him to retroactively receive a full year of service time.
Voting Results
Kurtz’s teammate, Jacob Wilson, took second place, while Roman Anthony of the Boston Red Sox finished third. The voting results were closely watched, reflecting the competitive nature of this year’s rookie class.
Kurtz’s Season Breakdown
The Athletics selected Kurtz as the fourth overall pick in the 2024 draft. Although he didn’t start the season with the major league team, he made his debut on April 23rd. Despite being limited to 117 games due to a hip injury, he managed to hit 36 home runs, showcasing his power-hitting capabilities.
- Games Played: 117
- Home Runs: 36
- Strikeout Rate: 30.9%
- Walk Rate: 12.9%
- Slash Line: .290/.383/.619
- wRC+: 170
Kurtz’s wRC+ placed him among the top hitters, trailing only stars like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. This performance is particularly noteworthy given that he did not play a full season.
Service Time Implications
Kurtz’s late-season call-up has significant implications. The latest collective bargaining agreement includes provisions aimed at preventing service time manipulation. Players promoted early enough to earn a full service year can also enable their teams to gain extra draft picks if they meet certain performance criteria.
Although Kurtz was short of the 172 days needed for a complete service year, finishing in the top two of Rookie of the Year voting grants him a full service year. Consequently, the Athletics’ control over him has been reduced from six to five years, indicating he could reach free agency after 2030.
Competing Rookies
Jacob Wilson, who finished behind Kurtz, has a very different playing style. While Wilson possesses modest power and a low strikeout rate of 7.5%, Kurtz’s game is defined by powerful hits and higher strikeouts. Wilson recorded 13 home runs and maintained a .311 batting average throughout the season.
Roman Anthony, also a top prospect, had a strong season with the Red Sox. He played 71 games after joining the major leagues in June and earned a substantial eight-year, $130 million extension. His performance included:
- Slash Line: .292/.396/.463
- wRC+: 140
- Wins Above Replacement: 2.7
Both Wilson and Anthony’s performances highlight the depth of talent among this year’s rookies, making the voting particularly competitive.
Other Notable Rookies
Several players also received votes in the Rookie of the Year balloting. Noteworthy mentions include:
- Noah Cameron (Royals) – 4th place
- Colson Montgomery (White Sox)
- Carlos Narváez (Red Sox)
- Jack Leiter (Rangers)
- Will Warren (Yankees)
- Luke Keaschall (Twins)
- Braydon Fisher (Blue Jays)
- Shane Smith (White Sox)
- Cam Smith (Astros)
- Chandler Simpson (Rays)
- Luis Morales (Athletics)
- Jasson Domínguez (Yankees)
As the 2025 American League Rookie of the Year, Nick Kurtz’s achievements set a promising tone for his future in Major League Baseball. His journey and performance will be closely followed by fans and analysts alike.
