Athletics' Nick Kurtz undergoes MRI, avoids serious injury

Field Level Media|published: 08/31/2025, 12:43am EDT

Aug 29, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz (16) high fives team mates after scoring against the Texas Rangers during the third inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images

Athletics slugger Nick Kurtz wasn't found to have a serious injury when he underwent an MRI exam on his right oblique, manager Mark Kotsay said before Saturday's game against the Texas Rangers.

Kotsay termed it good news that the American League Rookie of the Year avoided a serious ailment during Saturday's examination.

"His MRI came back pretty clean," Kotsay told reporters. "We'll take it day by day, hopefully we can get him on the field sooner rather than later."

Kurtz wasn't in the lineup for Saturday's game. He exited after scoring a run in the third inning of Friday's 5-2 loss.

Kurtz said after Friday's contest that the injury didn't occur while he was running the bases.

"It was more like a gradual thing," Kurtz said. "It got to the point after the second (inning) where it was really bugging me and I didn't want to make it any worse."

Kurtz, 22, has been one of the best players in baseball since reaching the majors. The No. 4 overall pick of the 2024 draft is batting .308 with 27 homers and 70 RBIs in 94 games and had a memorable game against the Houston Astros on July 25 when he went 6-for-6 with four homers and eight RBIs.

--Field Level Media