A’s star named Most Outstanding Rookie by MLBPA. When are rest of MLB awards?
Athletics rookie Nick Kurtz had a standout first year in MLB that garnered high praise and recognition among his peers, which resulted in him being named the 2025 American League Most Outstanding Rookie by the MLB Players Association.
The 22-year-old first baseman from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, led all rookies with 36 home runs, 86 RBIs, a 1.002 on-base plus slugging percentage and 5.4 wins above replacement (WAR).
He led all MLB first basemen in OPS, and came second in WAR and home runs behind the Atlanta Braves’ Matt Olson and the New York Mets’ Pete Alonso, respectively.
Known to fans by his nickname, “the Big Amish,” Kurtz was a 2024 first-round draft selection out of Wake Forest University. He dazzled A’s fans and baseball crowds alike, at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento and other ballparks around the league.
One of Kurtz’s most memorable performances came July 25 against the Houston Astros, when he became the first rookie in MLB history to hit four home runs in a single game, finishing the game 6-for-6 with six RBIs, five extra-base hits and six runs scored in a 15-3 blowout victory.
Kurtz was also named the Sporting News AL Rookie of the Year by his peers which included votes from 320 players, 22 executives and 20 managers.
When are main MLB awards?
Kurtz will find out whether he’s won any official MLB awards beginning November.
The MLB announced its first award of the regular season Monday, the Roberto Clemente Award, awarded to Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts, who recently invested into Elk Grove-based sports-tech apparel company Core Impact.
The BBWAA Rookie of the Year awards will be announced Nov. 10, and the Hank Aaron Award, for which Kurtz was also named a finalist, will be announced Nov. 13.
MLB will begin announcing regular season awards Sunday starting with the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, which includes two of Kurtz’s A’s teammates, pitcher Luis Severino and left fielder Tyler Soderstrom.
Silver Slugger Awards will be announced Nov. 6 and Nov. 7. Platinum Glove awards will also be revealed on Nov. 7. The BBWAA Manager of the Year and Cy Young award winner will be released Nov. 11 and Nov. 12, respectively.