The Athletics have two rookies challenging for the top honor in the American League.
First baseman Nick Kurtz and shortstop Jacob Wilson are both finalists for the AL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award, along with Boston outfielder Roman Anthony.
Wilson began the year viewed as an early frontrunner for the award, battling it out with Yankees slugger Aaron Judge for the AL batting title and becoming the first fan-elected rookie shortstop to start an All-Star Game. Around the start of the second half, however, he was usurped by Kurtz, who went on to have arguably one of the greatest rookie seasons in MLB history to become the odds-on Rookie of the Year favorite.
The Rookie of the Year Award will be announced on Nov. 10 on MLB Network, with the award show beginning at 4 p.m. PT. The rest of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America awards -- Manager of the Year, Cy Young and MVP -- will be unveiled later during that week.
Kurtz debuted on April 23, just 283 days from the date he was drafted. Though he arrived with just 32 Minor League games under his belt, at no point did he ever look overmatched at the highest level. On July 25, the 22-year-old slugger put on a performance for the ages, going 6-for-6 with four home runs against the Astros at Daikin Park to become the first rookie in MLB history with a four-homer game and only the 20th player overall.
By the end of the year, Kurtz made history as just the eighth rookie since 1901 to post an OPS over 1.000 (min. 400 plate appearances). He led all MLB rookies in homers (36), RBIs (86), extra-base hits (64), runs (90), slugging percentage (.619) and OPS (1.002).
“It was pretty special to watch,” A’s designated hitter Brent Rooker said. “It’s kind of what I imagine it looked like when you’re watching generational-type hitters begin their career. The advanced approach. The advanced feel to hit, and the sheer raw, brute force he also has in terms of strength and bat speed.”
Wilson made a valiant effort to challenge Judge for the AL batting title up until the final week of the regular season. He finished the year tied for second among all AL hitters with a .311 batting average, and that mark likely would have been higher had he not played through injury, going into a 4-for-38 (.105) slump in the nine games following a right forearm fracture he sustained on July 8 before finally landing on the injured list a week after the All-Star break.
Still, Wilson led all Major League rookies in batting average and hits (141). Striking out just 39 times, his average of 13.41 plate appearances per strikeout was the best of any hitter in the AL.
“It was a lot of fun to sit back and watch,” said A’s general manager David Forst. “Both Nick and Jacob went well beyond any of our expectations in their first full year in the big leagues.”
No A’s player has won the Rookie of the Year Award since Andrew Bailey in 2009. The last position player to win it was Bobby Crosby -- who is currently the team’s third-base coach -- in 2004.
If Wilson and Kurtz finish Nos. 1 and 2 in AL Rookie of the Year voting -- in either order -- they would become just the ninth set of teammates to do so and the first in the AL since Mariners teammates Alvin Davis and Mark Langston in 1984.
“It’s awesome that it’s most likely going to be an A’s player,” Kurtz said. “It’s really cool. Whether I win it or he wins it, we’re just really looking forward to representing the A’s and what we’re all about.”