Nick Kurtz Makes History: First MLB Rookie to Smash 4 Homers in a Single Game and Ties Total Bases Record!

HOUSTON (AP) — Nick Kurtz had a night to remember at the ballpark. He was already on a roll with three home runs and five hits when he stepped up for his last at-bat. With his family cheering him on, he was just hoping to make solid contact.

Facing Houston Astros’ outfielder Cooper Hummel on the mound, Kurtz launched a 77 mph pitch into the left-field seats. That was his fourth homer of the night! It cemented his place in baseball history as the first rookie ever to hit four home runs in one game. He also recorded an impressive 19 total bases, matching an MLB record.

“It’s the best I’ve ever seen from a player,” said Athletics manager Mark Kotsay. Kurtz hit homers in the second, sixth, eighth, and ninth innings, also tallying a double and a single to finish a perfect 6-for-6 at the plate.

His fourth home run was almost his fifth, landing just below the yellow line over the visitor’s bullpen.

“Everyone was laughing,” said A’s shortstop Jacob Wilson. “What he’s doing isn’t normal. It feels like a different sport!”

Kurtz’s performance added to a rare lineup of achievements. This was the 20th four-homer game in MLB history, with only one other this season—Eugenio Suárez of Arizona achieved it earlier. Remarkably, he and Shawn Green are the only players to also have six hits in such a game.

Kurtz finished with eight RBIs, leading the Athletics to a 15-3 victory over the Astros.

“This was the first time my godparents were here,” Kurtz said. “They might have to come the rest of the season!”

Standing tall at 6-foot-5, the 22-year-old has already hit 23 homers this season. He was picked fourth overall in last year’s amateur draft from Wake Forest and made his debut just a few months ago.

Kurtz also became the youngest player to hit four homers in a game, beating the previous record held by Pat Seerey, who was 25 when he accomplished the feat in 1948.

He hit home runs off all four pitchers the Astros used that night, with his longest being a 414-foot shot in the eighth inning.

“It still feels unreal,” he said later. “I’m a bit speechless.”

Kurtz has been on fire in July, leading the majors in several categories, including batting average and RBIs.

As he stored the baseballs from his two final homers in a bag, he made sure to sign scorecards and a lineup card to commemorate his big night, with items destined for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

With stars like Kurtz shaking up records, it’s clear that the future of baseball is bright. For more on MLB achievements and records, check out AP MLB.

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