Buster Olney's 2026 MLB positional rankings have placed Nick Kurtz at #3 among the league's best first basemen, an impressive placement for a 22-year-old who just completed his rookie season. The Athletics' slugger launched 36 homers with an OPS+ of 173 in his first 117 games, accumulating more fWAR than all but one first baseman in baseball despite making his debut as late as April 23.

Kurtz's meteoric rise defies conventional wisdom about rookie development curves. Drafted fourth overall in 2024, the Wake Forest product mirrored his college production immediately at the highest level, slashing .290/.383/.619 after posting .306/.531/.763 in his final collegiate season. His greatest challenge remains improving against left-handed pitchers, as his OPS versus southpaws was 468 points lower than against right-handers in his debut campaign.

Kurtz ranks behind only Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Matt Olson in Olney's evaluation, placing him ahead of established stars like Pete Alonso and Freddie Freeman. At just 23 years old, the Oakland Athletics appear to have developed a cornerstone player who could anchor their lineup for the next decade, with evaluators noting his special combination of power and plate discipline that suggests continued improvement is on the horizon.