Nick Kurtz landed on the 10-day injured list with a right thumb sprain Saturday, forcing the Athletics' first baseman out of next week's All-Star Game where he was slated to start for the American League. The move, retroactive to Friday, came hours before Oakland absorbed a 14-1 beating at the hands of the White Sox in Chicago. Neither Kurtz nor manager Mark Kotsay addressed reporters.

The 23-year-old entered the day batting .266 with 20 home runs, 66 RBIs and a league-leading 76 walks — numbers that earned him a starting nod at first base for the Midsummer Classic. Last season, Kurtz captured AL Rookie of the Year honors after hitting .290 with 36 homers and 86 RBIs. This marks his second IL stint; a strained left hip flexor sidelined him in May 2025.

In a corresponding move, the Athletics recalled catcher Brian Serven from Triple-A Las Vegas. The 29-year-old owns a career .188 average with six home runs across parts of four seasons, but he has mashed at the PCL level this year: .308 with 18 doubles, seven homers and 41 RBIs in 55 games.

Losing Kurtz for at least 10 days strips Oakland of its most disciplined hitter and a middle-of-the-order anchor during a critical stretch before the trade deadline. The Athletics must now decide whether to promote a replacement from within or pursue external help, while the AL All-Star roster requires a new starting first baseman — a spot that could go to a contender's representative rather than a reserve.