This is one outlet's own report from Newsweek — the article as it was filed. Other outlets are covering the same event; open the full story to compare every source side by side.
A's Make Decision on Nick Kurtz Following Injury Scare
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. The Athletics kept All-Star first baseman Nick Kurtz in the lineup for the final game of their four-game series against the Boston Red Sox despite an injury scare in Wednesday's contest.
The first baseman will lead off for the Athletics.
Kurtz, 23, checked his swing in a full count in the bottom of the first inning, holding up in time but wearing a 95 mph sinker off of his left forearm. After a few minutes of speaking with the trainer—clearly in discomfort—Kurtz carried on and took his spot on first base.
At the top of the following inning, though, the A's lifted Kurtz from the game, replacing him with veteran infielder Jeff McNeil.
He underwent X-rays following the game, but the A's subjected him to further testing Thursday after manager Mark Kotsay described them as "unclear."
Kurtz recently returned from the injured list with a sprained right thumb capsule, which kept him out of the lineup for just over two weeks and prevented him from participating in his first All-Star Game, so the A's will be relieved that he is avoiding a stint on the injured list—at least for the time being.
Kurtz went down at a rather inopportune time for the A's, as they had lost six games in a row at the time he landed on the injured list. They went on to lose three more games, extending the streak to nine games at the All-Star break, then lost their 10th game in a row in the first game of the second half.
They won three of their following six games before Kurtz came back, but still went 3-7 with the slugger on the sidelines.
The 2025 AL Rookie of the Year hasn't been quite as dominant as he was last season, but has still been the best player on his team in 2026. He has a .890 OPS on the year, leading qualified hitters on the team, while crushing 21 home runs and tallying 69 RBIs through his 97 games.
He has only recorded one hit since his return from the injured list, a three-run homer against the Minnesota Twins, and will look to get back in the swing of things as the A's look to split their four-game home series against the Red Sox.
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.
