In baseball, certain numbers are forever ingrained in history. For example, Babe Ruth’s 60, Joe DiMaggio’s 56, and Shawn Green’s unforgettable 19. These aren’t just stats; they’re folklore. But put these big names aside for a moment, because a rookie has now written a piece of the folklore. On Friday night in Houston, the Athletics’ first baseman Nick Kurtz etched his name into baseball immortality.

Names like Mike Schmidt and J.D. Martinez dominated the conversation when it came to single-game slugging brilliance. Then there’s Shawn Green. His 2002 explosion of 4 HRs and a record-setting 19 total bases stood as one of the game’s most jaw-dropping performances. Unbreakable record, we thought. But baseball lives to surprise.

Enter Kurtz, a fresh face in the A’s clubhouse. The 22-year-old became the first rookie in MLB history to hit four home runs in a single game. Not only did he join the rarefied company of four-HR hitters, but he also matched Green’s seemingly unmatchable record of 19 total bases in one game.

So, who is this kid? Where has he come from?

Who is Nick Kurtz? Why is he called Big Amish?

Kurtz, now 22, kicked off his baseball journey as a part of the USA 12U National Team that won gold at the 2015 World Cup. He later committed to Wake Forest University, where he quickly made a name for himself. Notably, as a freshman in 2022, he hit an impressive .338/.471/.637 with 15 HRs over 54 games, earning Freshman All-American honors. And guess what, that season marked the beginning of his rise in the baseball world.

Fast forward to 2024, and Kurtz had become one of the top prospects in the MLB Draft. The Athletics picked him fourth overall and signed him for $7 million. He wasted no time climbing the ranks, and after just 32 games in the minors, he got the call to the big leagues on April 21, 2025.

Ever since, he’s been making waves. He is currently hitting .305 and has already knocked 23 home runs this season. The fans call him Big Amish, but what does that mean? Well, the nickname comes from his hometown of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, an area known for its large Amish community.

Where is he from? What is his ethnicity and nationality?

Nick Kurtz is a born American whose baseball journey started long before his big league debut, way back when he was just a four-year-old kid swinging a bat in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. That’s when his parents, Jeff and Marie Kurtz, signed him up for T-ball, not knowing they were planting the seeds of a dream that would blossom in two decades!

Born on March 12, 2003 in Pennsylvania, Kurtz grew up in a tight-knit family with two brothers, Brandon and Logan, and a sister, Grace.

For the Kurtz family, every step of the way was shared—the long drives, the weekend tournaments and the late-night practices. And all of it built up to one unforgettable moment— Nick’s MLB debut for the A’s against the Rangers, held at Sutter Health Park on April 24. For his parents, it was more than just a game. It was the emotional payoff of years of dedication, support, and belief. The kind of moment every Little League family dreams about.

What is his high school? Did he ever go to college?

Nick Kurtz made a name for himself early on, starting at Baylor School, where he shone as a hitter and helped lead the team to two state championships. Afterwards, his talent carried over to college, where he played for Wake Forest University and quickly became one of the standout stars of the program.

Notably, during his time with the Demon Deacons, Kurtz was nothing short of dominant. He earned First Team All-ACC honors in both 2023 and 2024 and was named an All-American 3 times. And by the time he wrapped up his college career, he had set the school record with 189 career walks and posted some eye-popping numbers: a .333 BA and 61 home runs over 164 games. Simply put, Kurtz was a force at the plate every time he stepped in the box.

A record breaker: First Rookie and 20th player to hit 4 Home Runs in a game

Nick Kurtz had a historic night for the Athletics on Friday. He launched his home runs in the 2nd, 6th, 8th, and 9th innings. And each against a different Astros pitcher. Ryan Gusto, Nick Hernandez, Kaleb Ort, and even outfielder Cooper Hummel, who came in to pitch late, all faced the wrath of Kurtz.

Eventually, Kurtz ended 6-for-6 with four homers, a double, and a single. But the highlight of the night was his biggest blast. A 414-foot solo shot in the 8th! He is the 20th player in big-league history to hit 4 homers in a single game.

“Unbelievable,” A’s pitcher Luis Severino said after the game. “It was a great night for him. He’s a great kid, and I feel like he’s going to be huge for us.”

This performance also tied Kurtz with Shawn Green. They are the only two players ever to collect six hits in a four-homer game. Interestingly, this was the second four-homer game of the 2025 season, with the D-Backs’ Eugenio Suarez doing it back in April. And wait, there are more records broken here.

At just 22 years of age, Kurtz is now the youngest player ever to hit four homers in one game, breaking a record that had stood since 1948.

The A’s just got a new star, and it seems like there’s no stopping him from here on. Notably, Kurtz believes his style matches that of Bryce Harper. Well, if his career trajectory goes that way, we might be witnessing the journey of a generational talent.