After monster stats as rookie, Kurtz has a new number in mind: 162

WEST SACRAMENTO -- Whether he wanted it to or not, Nick Kurtz knew life was going to change this offseason after he raised his profile on a national scale with an all-time great rookie campaign.

It didn’t take long for Kurtz to experience that change.

Earlier this month, the Athletics’ first baseman posted a picture to his Instagram story of the NFL game he was attending at MetLife Stadium between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants. After the game, fans eager to meet the reigning American League Rookie of the Year spotted him leaving the stadium and asked for autographs, to which Kurtz happily obliged.

“I was getting recognized a little bit more,” Kurtz said. “I’m not a guy who really likes that, so I’m kind of doing everything I can to stop that from happening. The Cowboys [game] was crazy. They saw it on my Instagram story and figured out what exit I would come out of, and they were there.”

Last week, Kurtz was one of four A’s players partaking in several events around the Sacramento area to mingle with fans and generate excitement ahead of the 2026 season. To no surprise, “Big Amish” was the most popular of the group.

“It’s really cool to get out there and people know who you are,” Kurtz said. “There’s kids who look up to you, and it’s cool to have a small conversation with them. I know when I was a kid, that would have meant the world to me. So it’s really cool to do that.”

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Believe it or not, the only place where Kurtz said he still is somewhat able to blend in is back in his hometown of Lancaster, Pa., where he has spent most of his time this winter.

“No one really knows who I am there,” Kurtz said with a laugh. “It works out great.”

It might soon become impossible for Kurtz to remain low-key in Lancaster or anywhere else if his first full season is anything like his rookie year. The bar is certainly sky high. Last season, Kurtz hit .290 with 36 home runs, 86 RBIs and a 1.002 OPS over 117 games, joining league MVPs Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani as the only MLB players in 2025 with at least 400 plate appearances and an OPS over 1.000.

In preparing for Year 2, Kurtz is focused on getting his body ready for the grind of a 162-game season. He has tried to balance his offseason workouts between getting stronger in the weight room while also dropping a few pounds for better mobility and to, hopefully, avoid the tired legs he felt toward the end of 2025.

“I know what needs to be done to stay healthy for 162 [games],” Kurtz said, “what I need to do with my body in the weight room and eating-wise to kind of not hit that wall at some point throughout the year. I know 162 is a lot of games. I want to do the best I can to play every single one of them.”

Keeping up the massive success in Year 2 will be a challenge. Pitchers surely will look to exploit any weaknesses Kurtz exhibited last season, and he already has an idea of what that might look like.

“I know how pitchers attack me and what they thought they could do to get me out,” Kurtz said. “That’s hard stuff up and in and inside fastballs. Some teams had good success with it. But it’s not so much about figuring out how to hit something like that. It’s about swinging at the right [pitches].”

If Kurtz does keep up what looks to be a path to stardom, the speculation as to whether he might be the next member of this young core to sign a big contract extension will only grow louder. In December, the A’s locked up Tyler Soderstrom to a seven-year, $86 million extension.

There’s no telling what type of salary Kurtz might be in line for if he becomes the superstar the A’s expect him to be. But given that he will not even become eligible for salary arbitration until 2028, signing a contract extension is secondary for Kurtz. His main goal is to gear up for a season in which he aims to help the A’s contend for the playoffs.

“I would never say it’s out of the picture,” Kurtz said of a potential contract extension. “It’s not really the full focus [for me]. I’m young. I’m so happy for Sode. He deserves it wholeheartedly. My main focus is on winning. … We win games, everyone is going to get paid and it’s going to be a great time. That’s the biggest thing for me. Let’s put it out on the field, and then we’ll worry about everything else.”