Happy Monday, Athletics Nation!
In less than a year since being taken in the first round of the MLB Draft, Nick Kurtz has sped his way up the minor league ranks to become the A’s everyday first baseman, and now No. 16 has taken a big jump up MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects List to No. 14, the only Athletics representative on the list. Shortstop Jacob Wilson most recently appeared at No. 68 in the 2024 rankings before graduating to rookie status.
The A’s took Kurtz as the fourth overall draft pick last year to somewhat mixed but generally positive response, but since then the 22-year-old slugger has very effectively validated the A’s front office’s decision.