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According to the league, athletics designated hitter Nick Kurtz made history for MLB on Friday night, becoming the first rookie to hit four home runs in one game.
Kurtz achieved a feat against the Houston Astros, sending the ball into the stands at Daikin Park for the second, sixth, eighth and nine innings. The 22-year-old, the fourth overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft, scored eight RBIs and six runs on Friday night, 6-6.
All four pitchers the Astros used on Friday scored a home run for Kurtz. Starters Ryan Gusto, Nick Hernandez and Caleb Ortto, and outfielder Cooper Hummel were called to pitch nine innings with the home team, 11-2. Kurtz’s three-run homer from Hummel ended up scoring for the A in a 15-3 victory.
This is the 20th overall mark when a player hit four home runs in one game. Arizona Diamondbacks’ Eugenio Suarez achieved his final feat of hitting four home runs against the Atlanta Braves this April.
Check out other wild stats from Kurtz’s incredible games.
Nick Kurtz Stats vs. Astros
According to MLB’s Sarah Langs, Kurtz is the youngest player to hit four homers in the game… almost three years. Kurtz, 22 years old and 135 days ago, celebrates Pat Saley, who was 25 years old and 123 days old, when he slammed four homers for the Chicago White Sox during a 1948 match against Philadelphia track and field.
But it wasn’t just a home run. According to Langs, Kurtz’s 6-6 performance on the plate helped tie Shawn Green’s modern record (since 1900) together at most total bases of the 19 games.
Kurtz told reporters that his performance was “not something you don’t even dream of, because it doesn’t actually happen.”
Watch: Nick Kurtz hits four homers
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